Tributes paid to Mick Hayes, one of Waterford’s greatest ever defenders

FORMER Waterford hurler Mick Hayes of Butlerstown who starred at left half-back in the counties’ All-Ireland winning team of 1948 passed away yesterday.

He was also a regular on Munster teams throughout the 1940s winning five Railway Cup medals with the province.

He played in his first Munster senior hurling final in 1943 when Waterford lost out to a great Cork side that featured the legendary Christy Ring and which won four All-Irelands in a row between 1941 and 1944.