Kevin Moran
By John Harrington
Waterford hurler Kevin Moran admits that winning an All-Ireland semi-final is the next step the Deise must take if they’re to continue evolving as a team.
Were they to lose a third All-Ireland semi-final in a row it would suggest they’ve hit a glass-ceiling they’re not yet capable of smashing through.
Victory over Cork in three weeks’ time is a must if Waterford are to be regarded as a team still on an upward curve.
“Absolutely it is,” said Moran today at the launch of the M.Donelly Poc Fada Finals in Croke Park.
“It's going to be a huge task and very difficult, but that's what we want to do and we're going to try our hardest and work as hard as we possibly can.
“Cork are no different. And only one team can go through. Of course, that's what we want. Nothing more in the world. All the work that's put in since Derek got involved, of course that's what you want to do.
“We are maturing as a group. The way we're playing, we're developing it all the time. The more times you're here and playing in an All-Ireland semi-final, the better.
“At the same time it's time for us to start winning All-Ireland semi-finals. Hindsight will be a judge of that.”
Wexford v Waterford - GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Quarter-Final
Waterford lost to Cork in the Munster Semi-Final in June but Moran believes manager Derek McGrath and all the players will have learned a lot of lessons from that experience that should stand them in good stead for the re-match.
“Absolutely, yeah, he will,” says Moran. “I suppose as a player there are aspects you're going to look at without getting too fixed on it because you know you could play the game over in your head before you get out on the field.
“It's important that you balance it right. Obviously there are aspects of our own game, individually and collectively that we were disappointed with against Cork in Thurles. But, in saying that, there were areas we played quite decent as well.
“Look, it's early days, the draw has just been made, we didn't know who we were playing yesterday morning. There's three weeks to think about Cork and likewise Cork about us.
“Every game takes on a life of its own and there will be a huge amount of preparation done between now and the 13th of August.
“It's just about going out there and doing what you can. The team that makes the least amount of mistakes and plays the best on the day will have the huge prize of getting to an All-Ireland Final.”
As things currently stand, Waterford will have to do without key defender Tadhg De Búrca for the clash with Cork after he was red-carded in Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC Quarter-Final victory over Wexford.
Moran admits the gifted sweeper will be a massive loss if he’s suspended for the game.
“Of course, he's one of the best hurlers in the country. Any team would miss a player of his calibre. Look, we'll see what happens.
“We'll be back training tonight so I haven't really had a chance to talk to him or see how his spirits are. If it is to be, he would be a huge loss.
“It's unfortunate, we'll just leave it up to management to see what they can do about it. It's something that I'm sure they're considering their options on.”
