McGrath accepts that the word is forward

All-Ireland Hurling quarter-finals: Gavin Cummiskey talks to Waterford's Ken McGrath, who believes it is time for the team to deliver on their potential

Ken McGrath is one medal shy of the full set. The obvious one is still outstanding. Waterford have been the main pretenders to the duopoly of Cork and Kilkenny for some time now. At different periods since winning the Munster title in 2002 they have been sublime, but never in Croke Park and never when an All-Ireland was at stake.

Their nerve cannot be questioned though, because they have beaten Cork, Tipperary and Clare. In fact, all three were rubbed out last year as they retook Munster the hard way.

Then they went up to Croke Park and floundered against Kilkenny. John Mullane was suspended and, except for Paul Flynn, the forwards malfunctioned. If not addressed on Sunday, that performance could become a stigma that will follow this Waterford team.

"We probably need fellas to step up, especially forwards, in Croke Park," says McGrath. "Paul had a great game that day against Kilkenny, but hopefully we'll have a few more lads stepping up. Then there is Mullane back in there as well; he'll be mad to play after missing last year.

"Lads are itching to show they are worth more than that. We have never really lifted off in Croke Park, so hopefully it might come on Sunday."

It is a little earlier than expected, but Cork come back into view on Sunday. Word has it that Croke Park will be full, so the old questions will be asked again.

It is a chance to banish the memories of Clare catching them in the 2002 All-Ireland semi-final and the Kilkenny collapse. Although it is a quarter-final, this is about as big as it gets.

Cork came already this year, winning the Munster semi-final on May 22nd before McGrath, returning from a broken collarbone, and Flynn were match fit. Both played reasonably well but McGrath now admits he made a couple of errors late in the game.

"It was my first game in a few months so I was probably way off the pace. I had a lot of fitness work done.

"I thought I coped okay, but I did get caught for a few points in the second half and maybe if I was more focused with the hurling side of it I wouldn't have been. Paul is the same, and he too has a few games under his belt now so hopefully we will come good on Sunday."

Cork are back again because the new qualifier system threw Clare and Waterford together when neither needed the victory as they were already in the last eight, having both beaten Offaly and Dublin. Waterford went down to Ennis and lost. Clare needed a big scalp and they also held the pain of last year's hammering.

"Everyone knew the quarter-final was going to be tough no matter who you played. It didn't matter to us who we got really. After losing to Clare it was a disappointment, but before that match we knew we were in the quarter-final anyway. It was strange situation. After what we did last year they owed us one anyway.

"We got Cork, and fellas focused straight away. We didn't mind, sure it's another chance to play in Croke Park."

Justin McCarthy names the team tonight. For the last three outings McGrath has been redeployed to midfield, but that may have been to raise the fitness levels. One player sure to be missing is his brother, Eoin, who is suspended after being sent off against Clare, McGrath feels somewhat harshly.

"He was playing more of an important role for us this year, enjoying the hurling and he was flying fit as well. I don't think it was a necessary sending off. He done what anyone would do if a fella was kneeling on your neck or your chest, you know? A bit of instinct there was what he done. He flicked up his hurley."

Do they have enough consistent scoring forwards? Eoin Kelly, Dan Shanahan, Mullane and Flynn will all be there. Is there enough strength in depth? Does it matter if Cork hit full throttle? Same old questions, except more experienced heads back to answer them. If any one can stop the twin towers of Cork and Kilkenny it is still Waterford.

"People are saying that all year, but then we go out and get beaten by Cork and Clare. So we will have to start delivering on what people are saying, you know? I think the players know that as well. We are under no illusions."