‘This is not a transition year for us’ - New Waterford Senior Hurling manager Stephen Molumphy

New Waterford Senior Hurling Manager Stephen Molumphy has made it inherently clear from the offset that the Déise won’t be around just to make up the numbers in 2027.

The Ballyduff Upper clubman has moved to immediately dispel any notions of transition or work in progress, and has immediately set his stall out that Waterford’s aim is to scale new heights so long as he occupies the moniker of manager.

Speaking to Jordan Norris on the Official Waterford GAA Podcast on Déise HQ SocialTies, Molumphy initially expressed his delight upon taking up a three-year-term at the helm of the county he’s proud to call home.

“For myself and my family, we’re honoured by the opportunity. It’s a privilege to be entrusted with this role. Waterford, our county, is a county with a tremendous hurling tradition, very passionate supporters, and a very talented group of players. I’m very fortunate and looking forward to the challenge ahead. I’d like to acknowledge and thank the previous management team for the huge commitment and work that they put into Waterford Hurling. It demands an enormous amount of time and energy, and they deserve great credit.”

Aiming To Improve

While new ideas might take a while to bear fruit, the 42-year-old is adamant that he’s not entertaining any talk of transition - the focus has to be upon constant improvement.

“I don’t see it as a transition year. We have quality players. We’ve experienced players with excellent youth coming in - so no, we’re not rebuilding. From day one, we’re just continuing what we have and enhancing that, so I’m delighted to have the opportunity to work with so many excellent players, fresh blood coming in and we’re just looking forward to getting out on the field.”

Having had stints as a selector, as a club manager and three years in charge of Kerry, Molumphy says the call of home and prospect of taking the reins in Waterford was one which he assumes with a great sense of pride and optimism.

“It is special. I was lucky enough to be involved with Wexford in 2019 when we won the Leinster Championship, and Waterford the following year with Liam Cahill and then of course with Kerry as manager for three years. However, there is obviously something very special about your own county. You can relate a lot easier definitely, but I suppose with that then, there is a huge responsibility and that’s what you’re undertaking. I mean we’re ambitious in regards to our hurling commitments and I’ve mentioned already about where we see ourselves. We have excellent players and we just need to go and reach the later stages and of course, the players will find out all about the ambitions that we have. We’re looking forward to it. We’re all Waterford men, we have an excellent backroom team that will be put in place for that.”

The Next Generation

Building around and incorporating a continuous pathway for youth will be central to the Molumphy project. With the county having tasted All-Ireland minor success in 2025, the introduction of players from that crop can be expected in years to come - as can an injection of various talented younger players who are hungry and willing to learn.

“We have an excellent minor and under-20 structure. If we are to look at youth, we’re getting lessons all around us. I mean, look at Tipperary bringing through Darragh McCarthy who was practically Man of the Match when they won the All-Ireland, Galway reaching a final with 19 and 20 year olds, Cork the same and even Mayo in the week just gone. That’s key for us going forward. We’re lucky that we have such great youth coming in and that’s what we’re going to do - give them the opportunity.”

Having become involved with Waterford at a young age himself, the new Déise boss is adamant that exposure to the top level will only stand to those who wish to spearhead the next generation.

“I know for myself in the past - I was at my best when I was training with the county team, with the senior team. I was at my best for my club, because at county, I was up against the best in the country and that brought me on a lot. We want to give these lads, those 19 and 20 year-olds - an opportunity to train with the best in the county, and then test themselves at the best level. Coupled with that then will be our experienced players who have been to the Munster Championship consistently. They know what’s happening and what’s expected of them and it’s just about creating that blend of what we have on both sides, and merging it into an effective team.”

Club To County

With the Waterford Senior Club Hurling Championship and all grades in full swing at present, the former All-Star will be busy travelling to club games and keeping a watchful eye on proceedings in the weeks and months ahead. The standout performers across all levels will be given a chance to become part of Molumphy’s plans for 2027 and beyond.

“I always firmly believe county success comes from club success. At the end of the day, county players are only club players on loan. We’re looking forward to getting around and seeing the club championships and there’s so many games to watch. Clubber obviously helps in some regard, but I suppose we’re looking for those club players who have excellent work ethic, players who win their own ball and then finally just the decision making on the field. We know of a lot of players there, and there’s a lot of players we have our eye on - but I think going forward, there’s other players out there to be unearthed and we want to give all those a chance the pre-season phase and hopefully, they can join into the team at the end.”

Molumphy is determined to establish a team that Waterford supporters can enjoy watching and be proud of, akin to his own playing days in white and blue where the Déise were galvanised by ferocious noise from the stands across all quarters of the country.

“As a player, I’ll never forget playing with incredible Waterford support and they’re driving you on and they’ve given you that extra energy. I remember one match playing as a centre forward and resetting for an opposition puck out and trying to shout across to Séamus Prendergast on the wing to watch the wing back. He couldn’t hear me from literally six or seven yards away because the Waterford supporters were just driving us on and on! That was fantastic, and that’s what I’m looking forward to getting back to on the other side.”

A Team To Be Proud Of

So, what can we expect in terms of the brand of hurling that Molumphy and his backroom team attempt to implement? The exact type of hurling with which he has always been associated.

“What we want to see is a team with a huge work ethic, accountability and excellent decision making. It’ll be an aggressive attacking style of hurling, but also one that’s tactically disciplined. We’re looking forward to getting out, taking to the field and imposing ourselves, but also giving our supporters the Waterford style of hurling that’ll be innovative and unique to us. You can’t just copy Limerick or copy other teams. We have different strengths, so we play to our strengths - we play the style of hurling that suits us and we look forward to putting that into practice and showing everyone in the league and championship what we can do.”

While success hasn’t been forthcoming for Waterford, the Ballyduff Upper clubman is a firm believer that its arrival is a matter of when much more than if. Should Waterford find a way to tighten small margins, he believes the possibilities become endless.

“I think we’re 1-2% away from achieving something”, said Molumphy. “We have the talent, we have the players and look how close we’ve come. That said, we need to step up. We need to make that step into the area we’ve previously not gone to before, and I 100% believe that when we bring in the injection of youth, when we get all our experienced players back on the pitch, get them ready and we gel them together to work as a team - you know what, we’ve no bounds.”

When lining out in white and blue and soldiering for his county, Lieutenant Colonel Molumphy admits he never thought he’d see a day where he’d be the man barking orders from the sideline.

“As a player, I never thought of management, being a selector or coach”, he admits. “Just when you’re a player, you’re so focused on playing. I would say to every player, play as long as you can. I recently togged out for the World GAA Games in my 40s - chasing lads I think closer in age to my sons! You can’t beat being on the pitch; that’s what I would say to every player. Play as much as you can, because there’ll come a time - especially at the county level - you won’t be able to reach those heights. Once you’re away, if you’re on the sideline or whatever, even with victories - nothing beats playing. Nothing beats being the gladiator in the arena. I never thought of it before, never in my mind about management. I suppose things change when you get the curly finger to come off the pitch!”.