McGrath draws positives from new-look side

"The future is now!", so said Waterford manager Derek McGrath after this, his first championship game at the helm, having witnessed several debutants perform superbly well in Semple Stadium yesterday.

Defenders Tadhg Burke and Barry Coughlan both did well, midfielder Eddie Barrett was also in flying form until an unfortunate twist (literally — his knee) saw him out of the game and possibly out for the season, while up front both Colin Dunford and Austin Gleeson both impressed.

In fact Gleeson did even more than that — with a goal for the ages to put Waterford nine points clear (44m), along with a classy pointed sideline and an effortless point to end the first half, the Mount Sion teenager stole the show.