Waterford boss Derek McGrath: ‘The level of devastation is huge’

Waterford boss Derek McGrath summed up the devastation of an exit at All-Ireland semi-final stage for a second straight year to Kilkenny following the two-point defeat in Saturday night’s replay thriller at Semple Stadium.

The Déise had a chance to tie up the scores and force extra time at the end of a pulsating 70 minutes of action in Thurles but Kilkenny goalkeeper Eoin Murphy was able to get his hurl to Pauric Mahony's late effort.

McGrath’s side had dragged their way back from five points down 10 minutes into the second half but Kilkenny pulled away again late on as they continue their quest for three-in-a-row.

Speaking to RTÉ in the aftermath of the game, McGrath said: “Not good enough really I suppose in terms of . . . the day of moral victories for Waterford, I think we are trying to get away from that whole environment, we’re trying to create our culture.

“(I’m) devastated for the lads because they put so much effort into it over a two-year period really. A, to be involved in games like today, and B, to perform in the manner they did and not get over the line.

“We have to give due credit to Kilkenny overall, that traditional third-quarter push from Kilkenny, we just said we’d go to the end no matter what. Immensely proud but devastated that we came to win the match and thought we had a great chance to win the match. There’s no consolation going toe to toe with an empire if you like, you know we’re here to win the match and we weren’t able to do that.”

McGrath praised Mahony’s performance and admitted he thought the free at the end was going over the bar.

"Ah, indeed I did, but listen, without Pauric Mahony, we wouldn't be in a replay based on his performance last week," added McGrath.

“Look I think there was a ball taken down from the crossbar a few minutes earlier as well by Eoin Murphy, so I think it’s good goalkeeping but it’s certainly no fault of Pauric Mahony, he’s had an horrendous time recovering from injury. We’d be more proud of Pauric that anyone in the dressing room.”

Asked about his future, McGrath admitted that now was not the time to think about it.

“I’m supposed to be facing in to another three-year term now at this stage, ’tis very hard to face into it. The level of devastation is huge and we’re as far away from a semi-final now as we ever were and that’s the reality of sport. I don’t even want to contemplate it.”

Brian Cody praised Waterford for their efforts in making the two semi-finals clashes such engaging contests.

“It was just a magnificent game, there was to-ing and fro-ing and it took a magnificent effort from both teams to make it the spectacle that it was and it went right down to the very,very end obviously and it’s a tremendous credit to our lads.

Speaking of Waterford’s display, Cody added: “There was no end to them really, they kept going, kept going, kept at it. They were a phenomenal threat throughout the whole game , that’s two games between ourselves and Waterford in the space of six days and what at the end of the day – two points over two games between us – just outstanding hurling.

The two managers were separated on the sideline at one stage by Westmeath referee James McGrath, but Cody made light of it afterwards.

“If a human being could stand on the sideline out there today and watch that game going ahead and not be animated and not be passionate and not be annoyed at times and thrilled at times, you would be slightly abnormal.”