Euro woes to Déise blows
A FEW years ago, economist and commentator Jim Power spoke at a conference with Kilkenny hurling boss Brian Cody, who caught him across the knuckles with a remark about depressed economists.
It was all good fun, but Power didn’t let it pass. When he spoke he hit back.
“I said that for 40-odd years I’d gone out every May believing that Waterford were going to win the All-Ireland,” says Power, laughing.
“I asked if there was any greater manifestation of optimism than that, and he took the point.”
Power is a west Waterford man, born in Clonea-Power and played hurling up to U21 level there — “Gaelic football with Rathgormack” — before moving to Dublin.
He has an interest in all sports, as he says, but hurling is in the marrow.
“I was reared on hurling, really, and trips to Thurles, games where Waterford always seemed to be losing to fellas in red jerseys. Ever since I’ve had a psychological problem with Cork hurling!
“I took my son, who’s a Dub, to his first hurling match in 2002 — the Munster final, Waterford v Tipperary.
“I suppose that was the start of the modern era for Waterford, though we had a good year in 1998.
“For me 2002 was what kick-started it. It’s been a fabulous ride since then for Waterford people, and you’ve to give great credit to Justin McCarthy for helping to make that breakthrough.”
Given the hidings he witnessed as a boy, if he’d been told then he’d see Waterford win four Munster titles in nine years...
“As a kid growing up I never thought I’d see the day we won the Munster title, usually we were gone after the first day out so Kilkenny became my second love in hurling.
“As I said, from growing up I’d have had a problem with Cork, and from where I grew up I’d have had a problem with Tipperary.”
The problems aren’t confined to the blue and gold. Power is frank about his day job and the relief sport offers.
“If I look back, since 2002 Waterford has got a huge lift from hurling. The two weeks leading into the All-Ireland final in 2008, I suppose, were the highlight. The whole thing gives people a lift.
“Commentating on the Irish economy in the last four or five years has been incredibly dispiriting and depressing. It really has, and I’m just commentating while people, business people, are out there having a horrific time trying to make their way.
“Then last Monday week, after the surprise win over Galway, I was on a high. Sport’s an absolutely essential part of life for people, it gives incredible highs to people, and as I said to my wife coming out of Semple Stadium after the Galway game, how different it was to coming out of Páirc Uí Chaoimh after the Munster final.
“I think it gives such a lift to counties. Mayo went through the same thing last weekend.”
The last few years have provided a lifetime’s worth of memories. A casual question about a favourite player sends Power into reveries: “Tony Browne has to stand out. The current team... Tony, definitely. Brick Walsh.”
The neighbour’s child? “Absolutely! Brick was reared near me, he’s been outstanding but John Mullane exemplifies everything that’s good about sport.
“I stayed to the bitter end of the 2008 All-Ireland final, the presentation of the cup, the whole thing and at the bitter end of that game John was still trying his hardest. That’s sport.”
Power expects a fair crowd of Waterford people to arrive into the house this weekend. A Waterford person with a base in the capital always becomes popular on weekends like this. He acknowledges that Kilkenny will be favourites but adds that it’s important for small counties like Waterford to be dining at the top table, as he puts it.
He’ll be hoping for more memories like 2002.
“That was the day. We were on holidays in Dingle and we drove over, and my son, who was eight, was sitting with me in the open stand. He saw adults all round him crying at the final whistle, he didn’t know what to make of it.”
Including his dad?
“I certainly was. I remember on the way back to Dingle that night we called into a supermarket in Macroom for something to eat, and the locals clapped us when we went in wearing our Waterford tops.”
- The Waterford Supporters Club golf outing is at Killeen GC, Kill, Co. Kildare on August 19; for details contact jim.m.power@gmail.com
