‘Ruthless’ Waterford can be champions
However, he had words of caution, bluntly telling them to forget what they achieved last season and to become more ruthless on the field.
"You froze last year against a very poor Clare team," said Loughnane. "That's natural, that can happen. It can happen from over-confidence or underrating the opposition. The next time you get there, there's one word you should think of and that is absolute ruthlessness. When you get on that field, in order to win you must be ruthless even though you can be the nicest person off the field. When I look at Waterford, I see what is lacking - that ruthlessness to get to the top.
Loughnane was speaking had for guests at the fourth annual presentation of WLR fm/Lawlors Hotel GAA awards in Dungarvan at the week-end. The audience included March winner Ken McGrath who was chosen as the overall winner for the year. And, honoured along with him was former dual star Andy Fleming, who won the Hall of Fame.
Waterford manager Justin McCarthy the May winner was not present to hear Loughnane's comments. Neither was his predecessor Gerald McCarthy, with whom Loughnane was controversially involved after the counties' 1998 Munster final clash. But, in an indirect compliment to the current coach, Loughnane said that while watching last year's Munster final on RTÉ, he felt sure that Waterford were going to win.
"You could see it from their body language, the way they were playing, the quality of their hurling and they the way they dragged Tipperary around the field," he commented. "At half time I felt a real surprise was on the cards.
"I think this Waterford team, with the draw they have in the championship (against Limerick), have a terrific chance of winning the All-Ireland final. They have already made a huge breakthrough in winning the Munster championship, but in the modern game, recognition depends on winning the All-Ireland.
"When we won the Munster title for the first time in 1995, I drove it home night after night that we were nothing unless we won the All-Ireland. I read a comment from Jim Greene that it was time for the Waterford players to 'get off the bus' after winning the Munster title. The players know it's time to focus on this year. This is the year to win the All-Ireland. This is the year to make the breakthrough.
"The reward for that is not a medal, not even the McCarthy Cup. It's the satisfaction that you get from winning, the sense of life-long fulfilment you will have.
"That is what I got and that is why I'd never go into it again because I'd never find it the same. Once you have got to the Holy Grail, you have it for a lifetime and nothing can surpass it."
He believes that if Waterford can get back to the Munster final, they are 'on the road again.' And, he said he could guarantee that when they get back to Croke Park they 'would not freeze.'
"Looking around at all the oppositions, I believe Waterford have the players. Next time you get to Croke Park do not let any inhibitions stand in your way. Push aside the opposition, no matter who they are and win that All-Ireland."
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