Cullinane keen as he ever was

Sean Cullinane has been through it all before with Waterford. He and Billy O'Sullivan are the sole survivors from the Waterford team beaten by Tipperary in 1989 and both are now determined to claim a long awaited Munster championship medal.

Cullinane and O'Sullivan have now passed the 30-year mark, but they're as keen as ever. Cullinane adopts a calm approach to the game, believing that Clare, while holding the All-Ireland title, are not as invincible as some people suggest. "There is no doubt about it. They destroyed Cork towards the end of the semi-final. They are a very well-balanced side and have great skill and determination. "We know that it is not going to be easy, but I believe that we have the potential to beat them. What is important for us is to make the most of the scoring chances we get. In previous matches we have missed too many chances. We will have to put away 70 or 80 per cent of our chances on Sunday and we have concentrated on this aspect of our game in training, but it is absolutely essential for us to maximise our opportunities.

"Clare are very strong in defence and we will not get any easy scores so we will have to make the most of whatever chances come our way," Cullinane says. He sees the Waterford half-back line of Steve Frampton, Fergal Hartley and Brian Greene and the midfield of Tony Browne and Peter Queally as the areas where Waterford can get on top of Clare and dictate the trend of the match. "I don't think that Ger Loughnane will try any of the tricks he used in the semi-final against Cork. . . Personally I have no worries about who I will be marking or any changes Clare will make during the match. I believe that I have a job to do and I hope that I will be able just to get on with it".

Although he and O'Sullivan are the veterans of the side, the average age of the team is in the low 20s. "The team as a whole is well organised and Gerald McCarthy has the complete confidence of the entire squad. We did all the hard work during the winter and we have been concentrating on sharpness and skills in the last few weeks."

Cullinane speaks highly of the spirit in the side and among the supporters. "If anyone told us that we would reach the National League final and the Munster final when we started out, we would not have thought it possible. Now we are a well-knit side with great morale and the public have responded and given us great encouragement. "Expectations are very high throughout the county and tickets are like gold dust. If the interest is the same in Clare, I'm sure that the ground will be full and there will be a very enthusiastic and colourful atmosphere."

As far as the weather is concerned, Cullinane is not worried. "Most forwards would prefer a dry day and a firm pitch, but we are very adaptable. We beat Kilkenny in a mud-bath in the National League and beat Tipperary on a fine day, so we will be able to cope no matter what kind of weather we get."

One gets the impression that there is a new determination and confidence in Waterford hurling which is epitomised in the pragmatic approach which Cullinane displays. "Everyone will have to do a little bit extra and if that happens, we can win," he says.