Derek McGrath praises ‘heroic’ effort

Poor decision-making in attack, emotional tiredness and inexperience contributed to Waterford’s first competitive defeat of 2015, according to Déise manager Derek McGrath.

Mon, 13 Jul, 2015 - 01:00

Eoghan Cormican, Thurles

The Waterford boss accepted that the better team had won out, but lamented his side’s lack of fluidity.

“I wouldn’t be as generous to say that it was one that got away from us,” reflected McGrath. “Obviously, it was an extremely tactical battle. Tipperary were just that bit more fluid than us all day.

“I thought we got a real grip in the middle part of the first half. We looked like we were able to grind it out, our much vaunted system was up and running. We were disappointed to go in a point down at half-time, but we can have no real qualms overall.

“I don’t think the wides in the second half ate away at our confidence. I just think it was the nature of the game and the way it was going. I thought we looked really strong in defence. In terms of being an attacking threat, Pádraic Maher cleared an amount of ball. We were getting mixed messages and I thought we showed inexperience in the second half more than anything.”

McGrath expressed a deep sense of pride at the manner in which his troops emptied the tank, and stood toe-to-toe with a team considered genuine All-Ireland contenders.

“If you look at the job Barry Coughlan did, even on Seamie Callanan. if you said to me this morning you’d keep the offensive six of Tipp relatively more subdued than they have been, you’d take that. I thought they were heroic.

“I thought there was a bit of emotional tiredness creeping in in the second half. It was a big day for them and I think they learned from it.”

He continued: “Pride would be my over-riding emotion of this team and the journey they have been on.”

Can they bounce back?

“If you contrast this defeat to the defeats of last year against Clare and Kilkenny in the league which were absolute hammerings, I think the psychological impact of those undoubtedly had an effect on the lads. I don’t think there were scars from this defeat.”