Why not us, why not now?

September 8th 2013, I was 15. At the time, hurling was something I didn’t care all too much for.

I wanted Waterford to win any game they played and I’d watch them without ever going out of my way, but that was more instilled by a sense of civic pride than by any undercurrent developing a sudden love for our national game.

Watching Waterford win an All-Ireland that day, something I’d not seen in my lifetime before, abruptly lit a fuse. Waterford didn’t win All-Irelands, or at least they weren’t supposed to.

Seeing some of the people that I had grown up with - Patrick Curran, Gavin Power, Kevin Daly, climbing the steps of the Hogan Stand to collect the cup, that was simply surreal. A couple of hours later, I found myself at the centre of the carnival in Grattan Square waiting to celebrate with the rest of Waterford. When I woke up that morning, I didn’t really care about hurling.

Fast forward 12 years, and there’s very few Waterford games I’ve missed. As consumed by the contagion of blind hope as the next guy, I’ve always held on to that increasingly naive sense of instinct. Some day it will happen at senior level. 2013 set the wheels in motion, 2016 had to be the catalyst.

2017 was the best chance blown, 2020 was a wild dystopian daydream. Pandemonium in the pandemic, I was watching Limerick lift Liam McCarthy in an empty Croke Park. The 15-year-old was right, maybe civic pride is a more favourable course of action, at least for your feelings.

Still, despite the lows, once you’re bitten once - it’s never leaving you, is it? The league final. Ballygunner’s miracle against Ballyhale. Cork and Clare wounded at Walsh Park. Battles won, yet never wars. The bridesmaid capital of Ireland, second only to Mayo.

I won’t lie, I was a little bit disillusioned a couple of weeks ago when the seniors crashed out again. Blinded by loyalties, I couldn’t see it coming. Then the doubts come creeping in. I had been to see the minors three times by then, twice they were sensational, once they were lacklustre. Would I dare to believe? Cautiously, at best.

Rocking up to Wexford Park, there was a quiet confidence brewing. We could definitely beat Kilkenny, but we could definitely beat anyone, it wasn’t necessarily that simple. A rip roaring opening period, a lead at the break - I was certain. I’d have bet my right arm that it would be a Déise day in the sun. 10 minutes later, three points down. I was like Baba Vanga on a budget. Magpies started to circle.

Everything after that moment felt like an out-of-body experience. 11 minutes of heroic hurling, 1-7 to no score. Another All-Ireland Final on the horizon, and bitten by the bug again. Am I brave enough to dream this time? Braver than ever before.

There’s enough naysayers lurking in these lands that don’t need my name added to their list. Those who say it can’t be done needn’t bother interrupting those doing it.

For years, Waterford have revelled in the moniker of the underdog. To many, they enter this clash against Clare as favourites. The territories are uncharted, but so are the possibilities. Talk of transitions, teething phases, turning points and the like is truly tiresome. Waterford hurling needs a shot in the arm - and irrespective of the result this Saturday, here lies the catalyst.

Remember witnessing many of this team lose three on the spin in Munster last year? Remember hearing James O’Connor say “we can be a good team, but the players must realise it too.” Belief is a powerful thing - blinded as we all are by it, we’d be deep in the doldrums without it.

There’s narratives to be dispelled. There’s nothing coming through in Waterford hurling. We can’t compete with the bigger counties. The Munster Championship structure isn’t fair to us. The best days are long behind us. Then why is the bunting flying? Why are the flags in the windows? Why can you feel the excitement in the air? Why can’t we win an All Ireland?

Looking at the game itself, it will be an undoubtedly difficult evening at points. Character, resilience and mental fortitude will have to shine through every bit as much as skill, teamwork and efficiency. Clare’s performance against Cork was every bit as impressive as Waterford’s was against Kilkenny. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if there was nothing to separate them come the sound of the final whistle.

Still, I have this feeling. I haven’t had it before a final. I didn’t have it before the Munster final this year - but it’s there now, like that undercurrent - and it won’t go away. It’s keeping me up at night, I’m convinced it’s not the heat outside - as much as that doesn’t help. I’m adamant that people will talk about June 28th 2025 for years to come. I pray it’s for the right reasons.

Waterford beat Clare 1-21 to 1-15 earlier this year. If ever a scoreboard didn’t tell a story. The Déise got out of jail in Dungarvan that night, but it wasn’t a once off. This side have continuously shown their ability to rewrite the rule book when faced by adversity. The ability to rewrite history books is something they possess in abundance. It’s far easier said than done.

If Waterford play the occasion, it would be understandable. Teenagers, with their whole lives ahead of them - this is a game of hurling. Regardless of the result, their futures are bright and filled with prosperity. These same teenagers, if they play the match rather than the occasion, then irrespective of their grander ambitions - they will be immortalised in the annals of Waterford hurling folklore.

Waterford at full flight are the best team in Ireland, they’ve earned the right to go and prove that this Saturday.

1929, 1948, 2013. Days that live in stories and scorelines. Saturday isn’t about history. It’s about what these players are willing to become.

Some might say it isn’t their time, I say ignore them.

Why not us? Why not now - inching toward immortality.