Waterford turn negatives to positives

With the hype, buzz, excitement and anticipation in Waterford reaching fever pitch ahead of the Deise's first appearance in an All-Ireland Senior Hurling final in 45 years, it is easy to forget how the county's hopes were severely dented earlier this summer.

June 1 was a day to forget for Waterford hurling as they slumped to a heavy defeat to Clare in the opening round of the Munster Championship, not only ending their provincial hopes for 2008 but also surrendering the Munster crown.

A few days later and Justin McCarthy's seven-year involvement as Waterford manager came to a close. After such highs in recent years, it was a bleak period for hurling in the county indeed.

Centre-back-cum-full-back Ken McGrath was one of the 15 men on the substitutes bench as Waterford succumbed to Clare.

He was recovering from knee cartilage surgery back then but the pain of watching his county crumble was more agonising than any injury sustained.

"I was watching in the stand and things weren't right that day. I think the whole country could see things weren't right," the Mount Sion clubman explained.

"We went out very tamely and we're not used to going out tamely.

"We came out of the Gaelic Grounds devastated, wondering would we ever even get back to the quarter-final, let alone see a semi-final, but things happened then along the way."

Positive things indeed. A devastating negative was turned on its head by the introduction of one man as the much-admired McCarthy said goodbye to the Deise job and a sprightly, then Sunday Game analyst entered the scene.

"Davy (Fitzgerald) came on board and the whole thing has re-energised and changed around so much, that we felt we'd a right chance of doing something special.

"To be honest, we made a decision as players and we had to stick to it and I think it bonded the team together. Look, that obviously wasn't an easy decision, what happened, and we still have good respect for Justin.

"Justin's after doing great things for Waterford hurling. Davy came in and he's the right man and he's after getting the most out of us, 100%."

In the past few seasons McGrath has been more accustomed to a roaming roll at centre-back. The number six jersey has long been etched on his back.

While his surprise recent switch to full-back has been a success after an initial teething period, expect him to swap again with Declan Prendergast on Sunday and reclaim his centre-back berth.

"Obviously, I think centre-back would suit me better. We got through three games and I thought I did okay at fullback, the three lads I actually marked didn't score," he said.

"After playing there for a few games, I probably respect the full-backs more than I ever did before. It's a very specialised position, and I think you have to be born a full-back nearly!

"It's tough enough and you definitely need the full league in there to get to grips with it.

"You have to stand in front of the goal and watch the square more, you can't go for the ball as much as you'd like. But I enjoyed the experience as well."

Switching back to his charismatic manager, McGrath recalls the days when both he and Fitzgerald were in opposite camps.

"Davy was shouting and screaming, but Davy was a great 'keeper and we all knew he was.

"You do things to win games and Davy was only wanting to win - he's 100 percent committed and I'd have nothing against Davy, before he even came down here."

All-Star tours and Railway Cup games ensured the pair already knew each other quite well before Fitzgerald was catapulted into the roll of Waterford boss.

"We were on trips with him before and he's a grand fella and he's a GAA man like us all. And he won two All-Irelands, you can't take that away from him.

"So he gave us some of his passion - we're not going to give away his secrets, but we know what he's like and there's an awful lot more to him than shouting and screaming, and we're very happy to have him."

That passion is certain to be seen around Croke Park on Sunday, but McGrath urges caution against a Kilkenny team he feels is one of the best to emerge in modern day hurling.

"We're playing probably one of the best teams in the last 20 to 30 years - we have to up it probably 20 or 30 percent from the Tipperary game.

"But we have to still stick to what we're trying to do this year, which is a bit of a plan and a bit of guidance from Davy. It's not as free-flowing as other years, but so far it's working for us."