We can still be a major force, says disappointed McCarthy

JUSTIN McCARTHY, while disappointed about the outcome against Tipperary, still believes his Waterford side will have a vital role to play in the eventual destination of the All-Ireland title.

The defeat was the first McCarthy has had to endure against Tipperary since taking over the managerial role in Waterford and that, he admitted, added to his feelings of disappointment.

However, he had no difficulty in pinpointing the main reason for the loss.

“A poor first-half punctuated by far too many wides (11) to Tipp’s two,” he said.

“That litany of misses was so frustrating and had a lot of heads down at half-time.”

McCarthy said they came to Páirc Uí Chaoimh determined to win and believing they could, and would, win despite all of their injury and suspension problems.

“After our half-time team talk the lads came out and found another gear to come within two points of Tipp,” he said.

“But, unfortunately from our perspective, Tipp scored their third goal almost immediately and that was the goal that killed us off.”

McCarthy said that Tipp were also the more consistent team over the entire game, and the first round game they had under their belt also stood to them in a major way.

“Unlike us,” he said, “they missed very little when it came to converting scoring chances.”

Looking ahead to the uninviting route of the All-Ireland qualifiers, the Waterford boss is insistent that their championship year is very far from being over. And he is confident that they can still be realistically involved right to the end.

“Today’s game will have done Ken (McGrath) a power of good, and it was a major boost to get John (Mullane) out on the field for a spell for some of the second-half. The only hurling both players have done was last Wednesday night in a light training session, but now we can look forward to having them available and fully fit for our first game in the All-Ireland qualifiers on June 17,” McCarthy said.

On the Munster final, McCarthy believes it will be in the best traditions of the Cork/Tipp rivalry down the decades.

“I think it will be a very good Munster final because in truth there’s very little between all of the top teams.

“As for ourselves, when we have shaken off the disappointment of today I’m convinced that we can still be a major championship force via the long route.”

Time alone will tell.