McCarthy’s praise fails to quash anger at referee

FINDING a Waterford player to pour forth his thoughts on an epic Munster championship semi-final was as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack.

Drained, shattered and, yes, disappointed. Bitterly disappointed, even though their Munster championship title is still firmly intact.

Even manager Justin McCarthy became as elusive as the Scarlet Pimpernel. One minute addressing his players in the dressing room telling them that, on the day, they had done their county and themselves proud. That was just about the sum total the waiting media people could pick up from outside a tightly locked dressing room door.

Then, Justin was gone. To be frank and fair, it has to be said that the genial Corkman has always made himself available to media hacks. Yesterday, however, he clearly wanted out of Semple Stadium after failing to win a semi-final that was Waterford’s for the taking right until the death. But not before he took more than a quarter of an hour to speak to his players, to tell them they are still champions of Munster, and to speak of the need of all them, management included, to pick themselves up for Saturday’s replay.

“Justin spoke passionately and from his heart”, said one mentor “It was inspirational to listen to him, and I have no doubt the players were indeed inspired by everything that he said to them.”

Dave Bennett was emphatic when asked for a comment.

“None whatever.”

All that sterling full-back Tom Feeney could muster was “we have at least another crack of the whip.” He said there is a lot he could say but, in these circumstances, he didn’t wish to.

No such problems with selector Seamie Hannon, county chairman Paddy Joe Ryan, and former Waterford great Jim Greene. Hannon was scathing in his condemnation of referee Pat Ahearne.

The former star defender said some of his decisions were “out of this world”, and while both teams had reason to be unhappy with the official, most of the really bad decisions went against Waterford. Hannon said the turning point came 12 minutes into the second half when they (Waterford) had forged a four point lead: “Paul Flynn was blatantly fouled, everyone in the stadium saw it except the referee, and when the ball was cleared Conor Fitzgerald hammered it to the net just seconds later. Instead of going six points clear our lead was now suddenly down to one.

“In the final analysis, that was a crucial decision and one that probably cost us victory.”

The Ballyduff clubman said, however, that at the end of a super game Waterford are still Munster champions and in a defiant blast he added “we intend to remain the champions.”

County chairman Paddy Joe Ryan didn’t mention Pat Aherne by name, but no one was in any doubt about whom, he was talking when he lashed out at the appointment of referees from non-hurling counties to take charge of major hurling games.

“We have three outstanding referees in Munster, Pat O’Connor, Seanie McMahon, and Willie Barrett (he officiated as a linesman at the game), and yet they cannot get big games”, Ryan said. “The system of appointing referees for big hurling games is crazy.”

Emotion draining through every sinew, Ryan said he was “very disappointed”, but insisted that he would not be saying any more.

One man that was, however, was Jim Greene, whose son Brian played heroically in the Deise defence throughout. First he reflected on some gilt edged chances that were squandered, and in that regard no one is to blame but themselves.

“Overall we missed a lot more clear cut chances than Limerick and that is one reason why we have to be disappointed at not winning”, said Greene.

Second, and in this regard he pulled no punches, was the referee: “I have seen poor refereeing performances in the past but none as poor as this one.”