The turnout and enthusiasm by Waterford hurling supporters as their team arrived home last night after coming so close to All-Ireland glory left many wondering what it will be like when they do go and win it.

Michael Moynihan meets one of the stars of Waterford’s last All-Ireland MHC title success recalls a special day.

Tommy O’Connell was chatting to a couple of friends in the Croke Park Hotel an hour or two before last year’s All-Ireland final when Jimmy Magee passed by. One of the friends buttonholed Magee and, pointing to O’Connell, asked him why this man had a place in hurling history.

IT’S 50 years since Waterford won an All-Ireland. I didn’t see that one, but I did see many of those Waterford players, the likes of Tom Cheasty, Larry Guinan, Philly Grimes, Austin Flynn, Frankie Walsh, Ned Power, Seamus Power, Martin Óg Morrissey – they were big men, in every sense, great hurlers, part of a great hurling team.