Commitment the key to Waterford success

If Gerald McCarthy is looking for any eleventh hour confidence boosters during the run in to Sunday's Church and General National Hurling League final in Thurles then at least one anecdote from a namesake with a storehouse of knowledge on the nature of the Waterford hurler would sound like sweet music to his ears.

The provider of such reassuring words endorsing the keen competitive spirit of your average Waterford hurler was former Irish Press journalist Gerry McCarthy, an inveterate and knowledgeable commentator on the club scene in his native county.

When asked some years ago to comment on the level of commitment and determination of the Waterford player McCarthy replied: "In my part of the county extra time was played in challenge matches."

Tony Mansfield, who nurtured the potential of the current side as manager and selector of the county's under-21 and senior teams down the years claims that "Gerald McCarthy has inherited a good and very talented squad, a very committed bunch of players".

He says that the team for Sunday's final "was developing in 1996 and is now at an important juncture with the big breakthrough in a national final loudly beckoning". Mansfield has been close to several efforts by Waterford to make the break through. He goes back to 1974 when he managed the under-21 team beaten by a point by Kilkenny. "Sometimes expectations for under-age teams can be placed too high in the public's perception. "Potential depends on the players' commitment and this is happening now to a significant extent," he adds.

Mansfield is convinced that it is a 50-50 game next Sunday. "Hurling," he says, "is the sort of sport in which a match can be decided on the smallest thing, a bad bounce of a ball, a mishit free.

"It will be very important for Waterford to settle early, forget all about the hype surrounding the game, the 35-year lapse since the previous final appearance, the now or never public perception. All of these things become irrelevant out on the pitch. A final can pass you by very fast. For the time you're out there you must remain focused."

Thinking ahead to the championship, a mere week later, he adds: "The attitude of the players from the moment the final whistle sounds on Sunday must be positive. Win or lose, the mind set must switch instantly to Tralee and the first round championship match with Kerry. Focus must not be suspended until the following day."

Playing the first round of the championship the week after a National League final is unfair to the players, contends Mansfield. "It is something the authorities must look at closely," he suggests.

But in such circumstances as Waterford find themselves, (Cork will have a fortnight's break before their first round championship match with Limerick) Mansfield reckons that the onus will be very much on the selectors and players to ensure that their sights are immediately readjusted. "Remain in control and keep in mind that Kerry beat us in 1993," advises Mansfield.

"Win it or lose it there is all to play for after Sunday's final. The winners of the Waterford-Kerry tie will meet Tipperary in the Munster semi-final."

Mansfield considers Cork's half-back line of Mark Landers Brian Corcoran and Sean Og O hAilpin to be the team's biggest asset. "This is not to say that they are capable of winning the match. The true test for any forward line is how good they can perform and how many scores they can hit when operating on meagre rations. Both the Cork and Waterford forwards looked good in the semi-final."

Meanwhile, Kilkenny and Antrim remain in the dark as to a date for their relegation play off tie. Four teams from Division Two `A' and Division Two `B' are poised to pounce for the promotion spot. Kerry and Derry in Division Two `A' and Down and Westmeath in Division Two `B' are the contenders. The top two sides in these divisions will qualify for a promotion place play off.