Paul Rouse: When football, not hurling, was Waterford's game of choice

The idea of organised games was seized with passion; all across Waterford there was massive interest with great crowds turning out to games. But every game played was a football one.

When the first county championship was being organised in Waterford in 1887, interest in the GAA spread like wildfire around the county. Fifteen teams entered the football. There were no hurling teams that year.

When the first county championship was being organised in Waterford in 1887, interest in the GAA spread like wildfire around the county.

Fifteen teams entered. The Dublin papers noted it as “a great joy” – Waterford was presented as a model of how to organise. The idea of organised games was seized with passion; all across Waterford there was massive interest through February and March with great crowds turning out to games.