Waterford build-up: ‘There’s a lot of tears about that final here’

On the Tuesday after Waterford’s thrilling All-Ireland semi-final victory over Cork, a lone fisherman stood at the wall overlooking Dunmore East harbour. The boats wouldn’t be going out that day, the weather was still unsettled, but not as unsettled as the fisherman. 

He shook his head. A red and white band flopped down from the rim of his hat. A gesture of respect to Cork, he explained; but this man was true blue, a Déise devotee to the core.

He had been on a cloud of euphoria since Sunday’s final whistle. Two days later it was still barely sinking in.