Derek McGrath pays tribute to match-winning hero

Waterford boss Derek McGrath paid due tribute to match-winner Austin Gleeson yesterday — and to the teamwork which won Gleeson’s late dead ball.

“It was great to get that late free — more effort went into the winning of the free than the striking and that’s not taking away from Austin. He’s very good on them.

“It felt a bit like a championship match at the end. There’s a always a doubt when you’re coming to a place you associate with drubbings over the years.

“It’s a very satisfying result.

“We were experimenting but Austin has played there (full-forward) before for Waterford IT. It probably suits him better to have him bursting on to the ball but overall I’m pleased with how it went.”

McGrath’s Tipperary counterpart Michael Ryan is hoping Seamus Callanan and James Barry return soon.

“We would hope to have them back. Seamus’s injury was a late injury concern. We’re in this run of three crucial matches so we couldn’t allow that to distract us from what was going on here today. And we didn’t.

“We are suffering a little bit but so is every other team. Jason Forde hasn’t played with us since his man of the match performance against Dublin, Seamie Callanan, we’re just looking for the opportunity to welcome him back, he’s a charismatic player for us and James Barry is a central player for us as well.

“But the opportunity presented itself for fellas to put their hands up and experience what it’s like to play in a really competitive game, as competitive as you can possibly get in early March. That’s the upside.

“I’m despondent over the two points we haven’t put in the bag for ourselves but other than that, we have lost nothing here today.

“But we are wiser. We learned some harsh lessons, the goal we conceded was a harsh lesson but I’m always encouraging our lads — they’ve got to get out there and play, experience it and grow.”