Waterford under starter’s orders for replay

Tramore in August, and heat rising up out of the ground like the breath of a snoring devil. The race meeting in the Waterford track usually takes place with the southeast riviera looking its best back down the hill, the long beach wheeling east, and it was the same last Thursday for the first evening of races.

Except for one thing. The August race meeting is also a main fundraiser for the Waterford supporters’ organisation, Club Déise, which helps to provide money for all the Déise GAA teams. A diehard racing fan who might not have seen their turnstile outside would have been surprised, then by the number of kids in white and blue with their faces painted on hand along the rails and in the stand.

Often the inter-county teams have been out of contention by this stage of the season, which allows players to let their hair down and mingle with the supporters.