Predator Patrick Curran inspired by heroes Eoin Kelly and Paul Flynn

With 2-25 to his name, Patrick Curran is Waterford’s leading scorer heading into this weekend’s decider, due in no small part, he says, to the two former Déise forwards on the line.

Eoin Kelly and Paul Flynn both accepted the approaches of manager Seán Power last winter and Curran has benefited from the sage advice handed down by the former All Stars.

“They’re brilliant. They’ve played at the top level and done it. You learn something from them every night. You pick up one or two things every time you go training,” remarked Curran.

“Paul would always say, with me being an inside forward, to be patient in there. Even if it’s not going well for you for the majority of the game, one ball might break your way. Just be patient and stay inside. That is the tip that he gave to me which I thought was good. Sometime’s you can get frustrated when the ball is not coming in.

“Paul was one of my heroes as a child so it would be great to win an All-Ireland with him.”

Curran was fulsome in his praise of the entire management set-up and reckons the continuity of having Power at the helm since this group were U14 has been a big help.

“We’ve come up through the age groups with him. He knows the players inside out. He’s very organised and I think that goes a long way.”

The Waterford joint-captain concluded: “The talk is that you’re going to win because you beat them at minor but it doesn’t work like that. This test is going to be completely different. Galway have gone on and won a minor since that game and added fellas like Sean Loftus and Fintan Burke. I watched the Galway-Dublin game back and I thought they were strong all over the field. They’re going to take beating.”