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You've Gotta Love Derek McGrath

So a novel pairing in the 2017 All Ireland senior hurling final. Waterford taking on Galway for the...
TodayFM
TodayFM

10:00 AM - 14 Aug 2017



You've Gotta Love Derek Mc...

Sport

You've Gotta Love Derek McGrath

TodayFM
TodayFM

10:00 AM - 14 Aug 2017



So a novel pairing in the 2017 All Ireland senior hurling final. Waterford taking on Galway for the first time in the history of the GAA is likely to make locating a ticket even more difficult than usual.

After coming up just short against Kilkenny in the Semple semi final 12 months ago, Waterford steamrolled towards this year's September decider once Damien Cahalane got the line.

Despite all the talk of being ultra defensive, how Waterford dismantled the Rebels was impressive.

The Brick's opening goal was the key difference at the break, and aside from Austin Gleeson's ridiculous Roy of The Rovers style netrattler, how Jamie Barron created and took his goal scoring opportunities was also to be admired.

Ultimately while he might be blue in the face from pre match warnings, the manager can't be held responsible for moments of player madness once they cross the white lines.

So those aside, it's been quite an achievement for Derek McGrath to a) stick with the Waterford project and b) get back into an All Ireland final.

Whatever about owning the dressing room, being a leaving cert english teacher with De La Salle College in Waterford city means that you'd also want to be able to handle the smart boys who sit honours english and inspire them to think differently about the world for their state exam essays.

The issue of his career break came up when I was chatting to him in the aftermath of their dramatic victory over Cork.

They say a sign of strength is to admit your weaknesses. 'I made a mistake in making that public' said Derek.

In the last 2 interviews I've done with him he's talked about switching off from quarter final thoughts by having a burger in Rockin Joe's in Waterford city, having a few pints to celebrate the semi final success, and having to content with people telling him he hadn't a clue about how to manage.

You don't get too many lads being that frank in the media scrum after matches.

Does it guarantee success? No. But it's great to meet someone who doesn't mind levelling with you.

Like mentioning he doesn't want to go to the family out in Santa Ponsa this week in case people think his mind isn't on the job in hand.

He's been on the phone to the Galway senior hurling boss Michael O Donoghue in recent weeks too.

He marked him as a 16 year old in the 1992 All Ireland Minor Hurling Final. 

Galway won that day. 1-13 to 2-4 against the Deise but who will have the last laugh in this year's senior decider in September?

I remember Cork boss John Allen telling me that to plan for the 2005 All Ireland final he took himself to Paris and sampled a few glasses of red.

Maybe a trip to Santa Ponsa mightn't be so mad after all?

For neutrals, this final in particular makes it difficult to know who to support! Here's Derek's initial thoughts anyway.

 

You've Gotta Love Derek McGrath

00:00:00 / 00:00:00

 

 



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