FORMER ALL-STAR PAT O'GRADY IS DETERMINED TO HELP WATERFORD BACK TO THE TOP The best news to waft its way down Waterford way for quite a while emanated from the Big Smoke this week. Troubled formerly by team-management reshuffles and blitzed more recently by a string of injuries to key players, the big, black smoke signals sent down to Munster hurling folk from the scribes in Dublin announced the good news: "Clare to overcome Waterford hurdle." Relayed by means of the national press, it has been viewed as just the tonic Waterford need to lift themselves over the notorious first round hurdle against the Banner county at Thurles this weekend. If for no other reason than copper-fastening the underdogs tag on the back of the Waterford collar, the summary pre-match verdict has served a very useful purpose in assisting the Waterford backroom team to round off their systematic motivation of their charges. Current Decies selector Pat O'Grady doesn't understand Metropolitan logic at the best of times and on this occasion also, he finds the bold print a wee bit inconsistent. Still it suits Waterford's purposes and after five months toiling feverishly in the background assisting manager George Leahy, Pat is thankful for any little helping hand, however curiously lent. When Pat's team and Clare's best take up their hurleys and fight for a place in the provincial semi-final against flavour of the month Limerick, both counties will carry a huge responsibility with them. At the helm since last January, manager Leahy, Jimmy O'Gorman, Senan Cooke and Danny Murphy plus O'Grady have displayed a great sense of responsibility since succeeding the Joe McGrath stable. Even the most discernining of supporters in Waterford have had to admit that their rebuilding programme has put the county hurling squad firmly back on the rails. Where the Waterford train goes this Summer is merely conjecture at this point in time but unquestionably it is sure to answer some pertinent points about the future direction and success of hurling in the county. On board since invited to join the county's think-tank last January star player of the '70's and a Mount Sion diehard Pat O'Grady, refutes any suggestions that the meeting of Waterford and Clare represents something of a side-show to the Tipperary/Cork/Limerick star-billing event. "Okay, there may be a certain gap in standards between them and us, on the face of it, but that's only on paper. Remember, it should have been us having a crack at Limerick in the League semi-finals this year and not Cork. I think everyone in Munster would agree with than view" In a way, the former star perhaps hinted inadvertently at what shrewd observers have analysed as Waterford's Achilles heel i.e. their fatal inconsistency over the duration of the 70 minutes game. Just when it seemed that the Blue and Whites were on course to cleanse themselves of the memories of the Summer of '91, the Decies allowed Cork to slip through for a 3-12 to 2-10 '92 League quarter-final victory. Not withstanding the loss of their dismissed ace score-getter Kieran Delahunty. Waterford should have won the March duel comfortably. They were ahead by six points at the interval but alas old failings are hard mended and a tilt at the League champions-elect was lost. For Pat 'Grady, the Cork result revived memories of Limerick's reversal of an eleven point half - time deficit against Waterford in 1973. Then it was Waterford's O'Grady, John Kirwan, Paddy Coady and Co. who were left to kick themselves at the close of play in disbelief. It's the bringing to an end of such scenarios for Waterford hurling that prompted the former Mount Sion and county star to throw in his lot with Waterford's collective background team. That and the fervent wish for success, of course, for his county at provincial and national level. Success which forever eluded the 44 year old Morris Oil Sales Manager. The old order in Munster hurling remains firmly in control, sideline aficionados constantly remind us. Though beaten in the League final. Tipperary are still favourites to defend their title. Cork remain the bookies second favourites but teams like Waterford have shown themselves capable of making the so-called kingpins look very ordinary at times this season. For men like Pat O'Grady, the difference between success and failure in Munster hurling hinges to a large extent on two things, the rub of the green and confidence After nearly 30 years without a major trophy, Waterford deserve a slice of former and crave the latter. In physical terms though, question marks still exist over Waterford's strength in depth. Have they enough quality players as back-up to the likes of Damian Byrne, Jimmy Beresford, Sean Cullinane, Noel Crowley, Shane Ahearne and Billy O'Sullivan? Time will tell. Championship hurling has a habit of seeking out competent replacements and below par substitutes, but recent challenge matches have boosted confidence in that respect among the Waterford camp. Players like Fergal Hartley, Eoin Dunphy, Tony Browne and Padrig Fanning have impressed in challenging for first team places. All were particularly prominent in Waterford's hearty display in going down to Offaly by 2-7 to 3-7 at Lismore on May the 10th last. Overcoming the Clare hurdle is a must though if these guys are to show their paces to greatest effect this season on the green swards of Thurles, Pairc I Caoimh and possibly at Headquarters. Retired from competitive hurling for six years now, Waterford selector and 'erstwhile Mount Sion trainer and club treasurer, Pat O'Grady expressed his satisfaction with the progress made by Waterford over the course of the last six months in particular. A one-time team-mate of such as Philly Grimes, Frank Walsh, Seamus Power and Noel Morrisey, he pinpoints the teams success in eradicating basic mistakes which cost the team crucial possession as a source of great satisfaction to the Waterford selectors. "Such mistakes have bedevilled the team, particularly at stages of a match in which they have dominated and have been in command but somehow manage to let the opposition back into it," Pat explained. As an All-Star replacement in 1973 and one of the few players to have played Minor, Under 21, intermediate and Senior county hurling the same year, the Mount Sion stalwart, whose father George won Munster Junior hurling medal in '39, is cautiously optimistic about his county's chance of victory over Clare. "Morale is good at the moment and I think the lads have that self-belief that's needed but I feel we need that all-important win to give us that vital confidence to go on from there. We know we're the underdogs and underdogs rarely get the rub of the green that they need but I'm confident myself that we can beat Clare on Sunday." Injuries recently to key men like Liam O'Connor, Billy O'Sullivan and Kieran Delahunty has caused quite a few headaches but according to Pat, the present Waterford panel have every chance of matching the endeavours of the Pat McGrath/Jim Green led teams who kept Waterford at the forefront of hurling's top echelon. "The present group of players certainly have the will to win, they're not a hard bunch to motivate and George (Leahy) has now got them playing as a unit, as a team," the husband of Margaret (neeCahill) and father of George, Roisin and Mairead insists. Winner of is Senior hurling county Championship medals with Mount Sion (curiously his late father was a dyed-in-the-wool De la Salle man) in 1969, '72, '74, '75, '81 and '83, Pat is conscious of the fact that Clare are just as hungry and will be equally committed to win as Waterford when the sliothar is thrown-in at Thurles this weekend. "I'm well aware of that. Clare have always been a tough team to beat and will fight to the finish. I'm sure our players are full aware of that fact too." Coincidentally the Mount Sion clubman ended his inter-county career following Waterford's defeat by Clare in the 1980 Munster Championship. On that day Pat came on as a substitute attacker but it was as a midfielder that he became a household figure and his club's special instrument in their lifting of the Munster Club Championship in 1981. In reiterating his belief that there will be very little winning margin for whatever side triumphs this Sunday, Pat O'Grady is giving his view to a largely converted congregation of hurling followers nationwide. Strange that the sporting media should tip Len Gaynor's side to come out on top this Sunday for it was Waterford who triumphed when the teams last met on March 22nd in their Division One League tie at Cusack Park, Ennis. On that occasion, Waterford's defensive sector fairly shackled the Clare attacking sextet to ensure a 2-6 to 0-10 victory. Fine displays by Cullinane, Stephen Frampton, Bernie and Paul Prendergast, Crowley, Delahunty and O'Connor in particular that day have given the Waterford side a psychological boost which the tipsters appear to have overlooked. Perhaps the experience of the Guilfoile due, the guile of Michael Daffy, the solidity of Anthony Daly and the workrate of John O'Connell has tipped the scales in favour of a Clare victory but certain sectors of Waterford's lineout have been strengthened, selector O'Grady confirms, the Decies are ready to meet Clare's best efforts, he says. Neutral observers do agree that the latter day chinks in Waterford's armour have been repaired to significant effect. In recent weeks, the team have played like a side who have trained three nights per week since March in search of that ultimate dream. The ambition to realise that dream is almost tangible when one listens to Pat O'Grady. One suspects it thrives likewise among Waterford's loyal hoardes. Waterford are determined to destroy the old order but Clare stand in the way presently. Sunday evening next will go a long way to decide whether or not the Waterford army are on their way to bridging the gap between champion material and also-ran status. Taken from Hogan Stand Magazine 22-05-92 Written by Kevin Carney. Tweet

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