Self-belief the key, says proud McCarthy

IN the throbbing, seething, cauldron that was Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday, Waterford’s hurling character underwent the ultimate test.

Picture the scene. Just two minutes of normal time remaining, Tipp two points to the good and a place in the June 27 provincial decider against Cork awaiting them.

At that stage it was a Waterford team minus its three most celebrated names. Tony Browne didn’t even start when he failed a last minute fitness test; Paul Flynn had been substituted midway through the half, and then the cruellest of all blows when captain Ken McGrath was forced out in the closing 10 minutes with a rib injury.