Days we dreamt of, days we deserve

The old saying suggests that when nothing goes right - go left.

Not so long ago, there was nothing going right for Waterford when it came to underage hurling.

In the last ten years before this season, Waterford had played 55 games at minor and under-20 level. They won 12, drew one and lost 42. A win percentage of just 21.8%.

At minor level, from 2015 to 2024 - Waterford won 6 of a possible 31 - less than 20%. As for under-20, 6 from a possible 22 - just 27%. Take out the All-Ireland win in 2016, and there’s just two wins at the grade since 2015 - one of which came against Kerry.

It puts into perspective what has been achieved this year, which is nothing short of transformative.

When the final whistle blew at Semple Stadium on Saturday night, I found myself in a very emotional state. I’ve been to an All-Ireland Final before, but never have I been there to see Waterford win one. If you could bottle that feeling, a rich man you’d be.

Standing above James Comerford and the team as they hoisted The Irish Press Cup aloft, seeing swarms of white and blue cheering on the pitch - a tear rolled down the side of my cheek. So that’s what they talk about, when they say it’s special.

“THE BALL HAD BEEN DROPPED” 

Speaking to County Board Chairman Neil Moore afterward, it offered a chance to reflect on just how seismic this moment was. Moore admitted that ‘the ball had been dropped’ at underage level for many years, the consequences of which we’ve perhaps felt in many a disappointment and hard luck story.

Great minds came to the table to arrest the slump and they came up with ‘Waterford Rising’ - and June 28th 2025, was the best example yet of that becoming reality.

From 1 to 15, the players were absolutely outstanding. Not to be overwhelmed by any sense of occasion, instead they revelled in every single second of impending opportunity. From minute one, the lads decided the day was going to be theirs - and they weren’t for budging. The minute Pierce Quann hit the net, you just knew - today was our day.

I’ve been travelling the length and breadth of the country covering sport for the last seven years, a privilege for the most part - but there’s one thing that I’ve never ever done before until Saturday. Writing my match report from the stand in Thurles, at half time I wrote the headline ‘Wonderful Waterford march to All-Ireland minor glory’ - even with 30 minutes left, I broke my own rule.

You don’t ever tempt fate, but I just knew with such certainty that this day was going to be ours.

Performance levels were off the charts. A one-legged Cormac Spain slapped over 0-11. What more can you even say? By my records, the Ballygunner man’s tally of 8-75 this season is the highest individual tally of any player in any hurling championship since records began. We asked Paul Flynn after the game about how special Cormac Spain is - his response summed it up expertly - “Well, I think you’ve seen him play.” Pierce Quann got the all important goal, the Dungarvan man picked a great day to have his best display yet - he was everywhere. Gearóid O’Shea was magnificent and sent over some superb scores, as did Shane Power.

Jack Power lorded the skies while Dylan Murphy and Jamie Shanahan hustled and harried like dogs from the front. Éanna McHugh oozed class and composure - and the engine room purred smoothly all evening long.

Hugo Quann was imperious, while few men are as willing to put their heads where it hurts more than Bradley Penkert. Tommy Kennedy has found his calling in the half-back line, and the back three of Lynch, Keane and Murphy inspire memories of Eoin Murphy, Fergal Hartley and Peter Queally.

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC 

As for the goalkeeper and the captain, James Comerford - I could write a full page on the man alone.

While I was so impressed with everything, few things impressed me more than the Ballygunner goalkeeper who led his team to the promised land. Watching him speak to the thousands on the pitch as he accepted the Irish Press Cup from GAA President Jarlath Burns - you’d have been forgiven to think he was a man whose years far exceeded his teens.

Seeing him bring the cup around to young supporters, watching him take photos in the disabled section on homecoming day at Walsh Park - Comerford was a class act, his warmth a shining example of everything role models can and should be.

These young men are everything you could hope a Waterford team would be. Talented, driven, modest, and best of all, they will only get better with time. Where others may have shrunk on Saturday, they stood tall, and they delivered a moment that Waterford hurling had been crying out for many years. They’ve given the county a shot in the arm, and a new era has well and truly begun.

Standing at Walsh Park on Sunday and seeing children running to mob a new generation of heroes for autographs and selfies, you couldn’t wipe the smile off your face. The bug has spread like wildfire and a sense of newfound inspiration has been ignited overnight. It felt like an ‘I was there’ moment.

Statistics will tell you that on average, Waterford only reach an All-Ireland Final every 9 years across the senior, under-20 and minor grades. They only win one every 19 years. Some people wait a lifetime, but if you’re 13 now - you’ve seen Waterford win 3 All-Irelands.

If you were born in 1960, you went 32 years without seeing one - then went another 21 after that. All the voluntarism that’s been and gone, some day again it will pay dividends - and waiting since ‘59 will be consigned to folklore. We’re saying that line with 66 years, but we’ll keep on saying it until we don’t have to.

One man that popped into my head almost immediately seeing the sea of white and blue swarm the field in Thurles was the late great Peter Power - a man who gave us so many great days in ‘92 and for years to follow - I’m sure he would’ve been beaming, as would many others who have sadly departed. Many a glass raised to their memory.

SUPERB MANAGEMENT

The final word has to go to James O’Connor. The man at the helm. A gentleman, a superb manager and a man who wears his heart on his sleeve. Spend ten minutes in James’ company and you will know that he lives and breathes the game of hurling. To have suffered so much heartbreak and to soldier on through to reach the holy grail - there’s no one more deserving than James to etch his name into the history books. Waterford hurling is forever indebted to his contributions, which we have by no means seen the full potential of just yet.

Nicholas Mackey, Seamus Hannon, Paul Flynn, Tommy Ryan, Jason Ryan - many many more. Legends the lot.

To everyone who ever bothered to stand on the side of a field on a cold wet evening, to those who drove to blitzes every corner of the county and to anyone who played any part big or small in this remarkable journey - let this day be the reminder to you that sometimes dreams do come true, no matter where they begin.

They say a single dream is more powerful than a thousand realities - but they never told us what it’s like when they mix. Isn’t it wonderful that we don’t have to wonder.

Thank you lads, for making us dream again.