The day Déise’s power matched their pride

When Waterford manager Michael Ryan appointed Pat Flanagan as physical trainer to the county hurlers, he mentioned Flanagan’s pilgrimage back to Dungarvan the night of the 2002 Munster final.

It was that kind of victory: you established your bona fides as a Déise fan in relation to it.

Against Clare in this year’s Munster championship, Ryan started three men who played in that historic win, Waterford’s first provincial title in almost 40 years.