Self belief key to win: Hannon
And he jokes that he’s a ‘kind of a border line case himself’, living as he does on the Cork border.
He played in the old Croke Park in the league, but like countless numbers of Waterford hurlers over the last four decades, was denied the ultimate honour of taking part in an All-Ireland series.
Going there on Sunday for the first of the Guinness All-Ireland semi-final against Clare is “fantastic” he says, not only for the management, but for the players in particular.
“They have come so far on merit. Hunger is one thing, but you have to match it with skill and I think this team has a good bit of skill,” he says.
Based on the fact the Munster final was played on June 30, six weeks ago, he appreciates why supporters fear the whole thing could go a bit flat. However he is confident the team’s preparations will have prepared them to avoid this happening.
“Mentally, we will be very much up for this game. Apart from that, a good few of the lads were around in 1998 and, they are hell bent on going further this year.”
The key to their Munster final victory was the confidence among the players, reflected in the rapidity of their response to the Tipperary goals. “This was our trump card. We kept saying it to them in training. Often in the past, and I had experience of this myself, Waterford were beaten before we took the field.
“We hadn’t that real self belief. From Colm, and Justin in particular, this self belief has been instilled.”
Hannon is confident the team can perform to its potential and not be unnerved by the occasion.
“Waterford were always able to produce one big game but couldn’t put two together. They have set a standard and people are expecting a good game from them every time they go out. But when you have the talent, and you take the scalps of Cork and Tipperary, naturally you are there on merit.”
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