McGrath wants Déise fans to travel in force for replay

Ken McGrath is urging Waterford fans to get behind their team for Sunday’s replay after expressing disappointment at the low turnout in Thurles first time around.

Despite poor numbers for the first game against Cork, he expects the Waterford fan base to back Derek McGrath’s side following their gutsy display.

“I thought that it was a very poor Waterford crowd,” he said at a media event for the Ken McGrath All Star Challenge on June 27, a benefit match in aid of his rehabilitation from open heart surgery.

“It was probably the worst Waterford crowd I have seen at a championship game in probably 15 years. Hopefully they will get behind the team now.

“Every team has fickle supporters at times. On one game and 70 minutes of hurling, the notion about this team has changed. Everyone wanted to see a bit of positive hurling. To hold their own and play that style of hurling was great. Sunday will be a great game.”

The Mount Sion legend got the nod to attend the drawn match after the successful procedure at the Beacon Hospital in Dublin, he will also be present at the replay on Sunday.

“I thought the last day that the performance was more important than the result. The young lads needed to perform and express themselves and play some decent hurling.

“Nine points up in the second-half, we were delighted with it but they just ran out of steam in the last ten minutes. The confidence that they will get from that will be huge.

“The way the league panned out with the last three games and the negative hurling that was being played, to go out and play that positive hurling and score 1-21 was brilliant. In 70 minutes, the whole thing is after turning and people are behind the team again.”

The display of club colleague Austin Gleeson didn’t catch McGrath by surprise after watching him at close quarters.

“It was an unbelievable goal. I have seen him the last few years and he is top notch. I would expect that from him. He is a lovely lad as well, he is a great man to train and keeps very fit.

“The thing is nowadays is that you are a star after one game with Twitter and Facebook. It’s hard but he has a head about him and he wants more. He has an All-Ireland medal already in his pocket.”

A glittering array of former players are lined up for the Ken McGrath All Star Challenge between Munster and Leinster at Walsh Park on June 27. Tickets cost €10 and are available from outlets throughout the county and through the Mount Sion website.