All’s not lost but there’s plenty to lose

Over the course of putting pen to paper on these pages in recent years, I’ve sadly become accustomed to writing Sunday night post-mortems.

Commendable performances that aren’t often accompanied by requisite results. Sobering defeats, sucker punches and in truth, I often feel perplexed when trying to find the words to sum it all up. Tonight is another one of those nights.

Since the introduction of the round-robin format to the Munster Senior Hurling Championship in 2018, 4-21 would’ve been enough to win 50 out of the 68 games played - 74%. However, scores matter at both ends of the field, and Clare’s tally of 2-33 would win you 96% - 65 out of 68.

The point I’m trying to reinforce is even when Waterford deliver something they haven’t done in quite some time, something else always tends to go awry. Stephen Bennett’s personal tally of 3-12 in defeat is a championship record in itself - but the Ballysaggart man himself will tell you he’d of happily scored nothing if it meant the Déise had two points on the board instead.

It would be very easy for me to twist the knife now and say that Waterford hurling is at a crossroads in some respects. If this is to be another year where qualification from the province eludes us, then yes - questions undoubtedly have to be asked and the direction things are headed will rightly come under the spotlight. However, I believe the time to scrutinise will be upon us from the minute the final whistle of the campaign sounds until the first whistle of the campaign that follows - and there will be enough knives being twisted in the period eclipsing that without me throwing my blade into the ring.

I’ve often been told by people that I’m soft on the Waterford senior hurlers and that’s an analogy that I can completely understand, but my view is that there are intervals for encouragement and intervals for critique. Both will arrive without necessarily announcing themselves, but there’s a responsibility and an importance in understanding that balance - because the worst thing anyone can ever do is knock your own.

Whenever criticism is warranted, I won’t be afraid to give it. That said, I’ve also never picked up a hurl competitively at any level - so who am I to question what goes on in the cut and thrust of championship. Like anyone else, I’m just a supporter. Someone who thrives on the highs and wallows in the lows - but you would take every low ten times if it meant you could experience some of the highs again. The beauty of competitive sport has never been lost on me.

You may question why I felt the need to go off on that tangent but I wanted to dispel the notion that Waterford will be immune to criticism from me in the weeks ahead before the action itself takes whatever course it does. As Kenny Rodgers said it best, there’ll be time enough for counting when the dealings done.

There was a lot to like on Sunday even in the midst of the sadness. Stephen Bennett’s 3-12 was one of the great performances we’ve seen in white and blue. The Ballysaggart man doesn’t get his just desserts. If you put a gun to my head and asked me to name Waterford’s best ever fifteen, Bennett is a guaranteed starter to my mind.

What Stephen has put his body through to be able to as much as play the game, let alone be able to perform at the level he constantly manages to operate at - is testament to his temperament. You can travel to every corner of this country, look at players with a lot more medals, but you will struggle to find anyone better placed to inspire the next generation than Bennett.

Austin Gleeson is back. He hit 0-2 on Sunday, he hasn’t had many moments to remember in a Déise shirt in recent seasons and maybe it’s fair to conclude that his inclusion could be nostalgic as much as it is practical - but that is a theory I don’t and never will subscribe to. Austin’s return to the highest levels of hurling isn’t just good for Austin and good for Waterford - it’s for the betterment of the game itself. He is one of the best natural talents in recent times and I hope in the weeks ahead that we see some of the talent we’ve sadly missed in the not so distant past.

All is far from lost. Yes, a defeat on opening day stings - of course it does, but there’s three more opportunities to put things right. The great Waterford teams with John Mullane, Dan Shanahan, Ken McGrath and Tony Browne never walked away from Ennis with a smile on their face in championship. It’s one of the toughest venues you can go to, but Waterford left Cusack Park with a far greater sense of momentum and purpose than they had when they entered.

Things will need suring up against Tipperary, no doubt. 48 scoring chances conceded, Billy Nolan producing heroics to keep Waterford alive at multiple intervals, but also look at the margins at the other end - as Peter Queally himself said, a handpass away from a draw. A wrongly-blown whistle away from a half-time lead. Who knows? Ifs, buts and maybes don’t provide much comfort but Waterford are nowhere near as far away as some people would love them to be.

Tipperary were very poor against Cork. They didn’t really show up, yet they only lost by four points to one of the form teams in the country. That’s the calibre of opposition you’re coming up against and they won’t be anywhere near as bad this time. Waterford must make home advantage count in the weeks to come.

Ennis is a long way away, I’m well aware - but I have to say I was a little bit disappointed with the numbers in Clare. It was well documented on national airwaves and newspapers that the Déise fateful were thin on the ground. At a time when support and encouragement is needed more than ever, the role of fans can’t be understated. Look only at the Rebels in Semple Stadium on Sunday, you could’ve sworn they were at home.

All is not lost for Waterford but it will be a lot harder to achieve if they don’t find an extra gear again this Sunday.

Walsh Park has to be rocking from minute one. One swallow won’t make our summer but if we don’t start soon, it’ll be too late to get to the promised land in time.

I keep seeing solitary magpies recently, but I know I’ll see two together sooner rather than later. The hope might kill us, but it’s a risk I’m willing to take.

Up the Déise.