Déise revival all Fitz in place

ON THE way through Waterford yesterday, the blue and white flags were noticeable, naturally enough.

It brought to mind that urban legend of bemused Greek tourists coming through the southeast back in 2004, after Waterford’s Munster final win, and wondering at the support for their national team, recently crowned European champions, though how wanderers from the land of Homer and Herodotus ever mistook ‘UPTHEDÉISE’ for Greek script, we don’t know.

Following last Sunday’s victory, the excitement is understandable. Even the players acknowledged as much, with Ken McGrath accepting that a level of hype has to be expected.

But that hype doesn’t have to take over completely. Last summer, Limerick occupied the role of the nation’s sweethearts as they prepared for an All-Ireland final date with Kilkenny, and it was significant enough that this office received a phone call on the Wednesday before that match offering three players for interview — not a call you’d be likely to see Brian Cody approve of a few days ahead of an All-Ireland final.

His counterpart in Waterford has a tricky task in that regard. Davy Fitzgerald has delivered a masterclass as manager so far, and the climbing graph of Waterford performances has overshadowed exactly where Fitzgerald has come from: entering a dressing room filled with former opponents and tasked with winning them over within a few sessions, he’s given a masterclass since in coaching (even if we’d prefer Eoin McGrath using two hands to pick the ball).

His tactics have been on the ball as well: moving Eoin Kelly to full-forward has been rewarded with a run of form which makes him a live candidate for Hurler of the Year, while there’s been flexibility moving Ken McGrath back to centre-back for the Tipperary game.

Fitzgerald has given nitpickers and naysayers their answer. But now there’s a different challenge.

To illustrate that, the comparison with Kilkenny could hardly be more marked. As you swing over the river and come out of Waterford the black and amber starts to appear on telegraph poles and shop fronts in Mullinavat and Ballyhale, but you wouldn’t be surprised if those colours were a little worn after the service they’ve given.

The familiarity with August preparations is a help to Cody and his team on several fronts — they know how to taper training, they’re familiar with the pageantry on the big day and the protocol of shaking hands with the president, and their supporters know parking spots around Croke Park as well as the menu in Langton’s. For this generation of Kilkenny hurlers and fans, the rhythms this time of year are as natural as a bear’s decision to hibernate.

Every day is a new adventure for Waterford, by contrast. There’s a fortnight to go but soon there’ll be a daily ratcheting up of the pressure — suit fittings, press nights, queues for tickets, celebrity endorsements — all of the peripheral issues that have the capacity to blur the focus.

Luckily enough, there’s a template to follow. A few years ago another Munster county finally cast off its chains after years of disappointment and made it to an All-Ireland final. The end of August was uncharted territory for them as well, but they embraced the occasion and the build-up, they bonded with their support, and they made history with an All-Ireland title.

If Waterford could draw on someone who’d been through that experience with Clare back in 1995, well, that would be a huge bonus...

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