Power dismisses talk of senior job as Waterford minors prepare for homecoming

The victorious Waterford minor hurlers will arrive home in Waterford city at 6pm tonight, travelling into Plunkett Station before embarking on an open-top bus journey to City Hall.

The newly-crowned All-Ireland MHC champions are due at City Hall on the Mall for a reception at 6.30pm. They will have the Irish Press Cup in tow as they climb abroad the bus for a second reception at 9pm in Dungarvan, making their way there from Abbeyside.

It has been a bumper year for Waterford's teenage hurlers with their first All-Ireland minor success since 1948 coming on the back on the Dungarvan Colleges' All-Ireland Senior Colleges 'A' title win and the victory for Dungarvan CBS in the All-Ireland Post-Primary Senior 'B' competition.

The silverware provides a timely lift for a county that is without a senior hurling manager at present, following the resignation of Michael Ryan last month.

Sean Power, the man who steered the Waterford minors to All-Ireland glory against Galway yesterday, has been linked with the vacant senior position but speaking after the 1-21 to 0-16 win at Croke Park, he said it was something he had not really thought about.

"I was very focused on the role of minor manager and I wanted to do really well with these guys," said the Déise minor boss.

"I know it's come up a bit but it's probably not something I'd be thinking about now or anytime soon. Nah, not right now. Now, ask me that Tuesday!"

Discussing yesterday's triumph, Power was hugely proud of his charges' display which saw them finish strongly by outscoring Galway by 1-6 to 0-1 in the final 10 minutes with top scorer Patrick Curran (1-7) plundering the clinching goal.

"The wider context is it is such an achievement. They are a great bunch of lads, role models for so many young guys in Waterford and for people around the country.

"This will generate a bit of interest around the country. It is nice for another county to win a bit of silverware than, let's say, the traditional counties. Please God, it will lift the game of hurling and lift everyone's interest in it."

Power dubbed it 'a scenic route' when reflecting on Waterford's journey to this long-awaited All-Ireland minor crown.

Compared to Galway's two competitive matches beforehand, Waterford had played seven times prior to the final - including losses to Tipperary and Limerick in the Munster Championship and their subsequent All-Ireland quarter-final and semi-final wins over Antrim and Kilkenny.

Although the celebrations for Waterford are only really starting, 13 members of the current panel will be eligible for the minor grade again next season so defending the Irish Press Cup will be very much on the agenda come the 2014 season.

"It's very hard to win an All-Ireland final, but it must be even more difficult to retain it. Jesus, preparation in earnest will begin again. Like, the Colleges games will start next month. There is a lot of hurling starting to be played," explained Power.

"Whoever may be the Waterford minor manager next year or otherwise will be starting to look to guys in October, November in Colleges games and starting to lead into it. Look, the potential is there. The next bunch of fellas coming through.

"There are guys in Waterford this year who didn't make the panel and will add to it next year. Who knows? The hard yards are done in winter. Please God we can go on and start building a bit of momentum on this."

Galway have won eight All-Ireland minor titles since 1992 and been losing finalists on another eight occasions. Their long-serving manager Mattie Murphy admitted that Waterford were deserving winners yesterday.

"With 15 minutes to go and you are level, you are really in the game - but we never went ahead. Had we gone a couple of points up, it might have put doubt in their minds and dented their confidence but we didn't and that was it," he said.

"Once they went a couple of points up and smelled victory they really drove on and the goal was the real nail in the coffin. No excuses, the better team won."