Waterford - Best team of last 20 years never to win an AI?

[Orangemac]

Are this Waterford team destined never to win an AI

Reading today they have won only 1 of 7 AI Sfs and with Kilkenny ( even without Shefflin) hell bent on 5 in a row are warriors such as John Mullane, Ken Mc Grath and Tony Browne destined never to win the ultimate prize?

Being from Armagh football would always come first ( although we have made great strides at all levels of hurling this year) but nothing would give me more pleasure than to see these men lifting the AI in September.

They have given so much to hurling over the last 10 years or so and it is a pity that the best team they had in 60 years coincided with this Kilkenny team. If they had been around in the 90s when there was a spread of winners they probably would have won 1.

[Lecale2]

They've had better chances in previous years and couldn't do it. They were at thier best maybe 5 years ago.

I'd love to see them win it this year but can't see past Kilkenny.

[Wee Shea]

http://gaaboard.com/board/index.php?board=4.0

[ardchieftain]

it's a great pity that legends such as Tony Browne and especially Ken McGrath, who for me would be in the top 3 hurlers of the last decade,
won't win the ultimate prize. But it happens so much in sport, outstanding individuals who don't win the medals.

[Donnellys Hollow]

Are they any better than the Limerick team of the mid-90s?

Hurling was much more competitive back then and there wasn't the safety net of the backdoor.

[deiseach]

Are they any better than the Limerick team of the mid-90s?

Hurling was much more competitive back then and there wasn't the safety net of the backdoor.

Probably not. That Limerick team won two National League titles too and were unlucky in two All-Ireland finals

[SLIGONIAN]

Are this Waterford team destined never to win an AI

Reading today they have won only 1 of 7 AI Sfs and with Kilkenny ( even without Shefflin) hell bent on 5 in a row are warriors such as John Mullane, Ken Mc Grath and Tony Browne destined never to win the ultimate prize?

Being from Armagh football would always come first ( although we have made great strides at all levels of hurling this year) but nothing would give me more pleasure than to see these men lifting the AI in September.

They have given so much to hurling over the last 10 years or so and it is a pity that the best team they had in 60 years coincided with this Kilkenny team. If they had been around in the 90s when there was a spread of winners they probably would have won 1.

+1, only team id support strongly outside of Sligo. Cant see it though, they are an ageing team. McGrath and Shanahan will probably retire this yr, Browne whos knows, hes a serious warrior though. Gave us unreal entertainment though over the yrs the Deise men. Sad day to see this team decline.

[lynchbhoy]

looks like theres a decent crop of new younger hurlers in Waterford - maybe they can win an AI in the next few years.
The old warriors like Mullane, McGrath x 2 and Browne and maybe even E Kelly wont be there for it though I'd reckon.
Same happened the red arses, even people in tyrone didnt think they'd even win an AI after their heroes like McKenna, O'Hagan, Plunkett, Cush, Corr etc etc all went

[muppet]

http://www.herald.ie/sport/gaelic-football/mcgraths-concern-as-daughter-bitten-by-dog-2299055.html

I hope Ken McGrath's little girl is ok. Has anyone heard anything on this story?

For me he was the most inspirational hurler of the last decade. Before that I'd vote for Ciaran Carey.

But the news above puts things in perspective and hopefully she's alright. Imagine getting that news after the match, doesn't bear thinking about.

[Minder]

I read earlier Muppet he was made aware of it before the match.

[bottlethrower7]

2004 should have been their year. They should have beaten Kilkenny in the semi-final and arguably would have but for the skating rink they played on that day, plus the fact that Mullane was suspended.

I think Waterford would have been better able for that Cork team that year than Kilkenny (who were beset with misfortune after misfortune during the course of that season), and honestly think, with their full team available, would have taken Cork.

[Roashter]

Agree that Waterford have been very unlucky. They were at their best when both Kilkenny & Cork were very strong.

Personally I believe that Limerick were perhaps more unlucky and really should have won an all-Ireland.
They fell asleep for last 7 minutes of 1 final and never got out of the blocks for the other.
Then again, you've got to take your opportunities when they come to you.

[johnneycool]

from the hogan stand;

Kelly disgusted by son's verbal abuse
Waterford's Eoin Kelly
17 August 2010

Waterford's Eoin Kelly is considering his inter-county future after his four-year-old son was verbally abused by Deise supporters following Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Tipperary.

The little boy was confronted by Waterford fans outside the Jury's Croke Park Hotel and, according to Kelly, he was verbally abused about his father's performance in the 1-18 to 3-19 defeat. The former All-Star forward said he was considering whether it was "worth it" to continue playing inter-county hurling.

"He's still very upset," Kelly said.

"You'd have to ask yourself whether it's worth carrying on playing for Waterford, if this is the kind of thing you have to deal with."

The revelation rounds off a weekend when the bad news for Waterford wasn't confined to the field of play. Kelly's county colleague Ken McGrath left for Cork University Hospital immediately after the game to be with his three-year-old daughter who underwent emergency surgery after she was bitten by a dog.






If its true, what sort of moron verbally abuses a 4 year old let alone about his fathers performance in a hurling game?

[lilpaulie85]

from the hogan stand;

Kelly disgusted by son's verbal abuse
Waterford's Eoin Kelly
17 August 2010

Waterford's Eoin Kelly is considering his inter-county future after his four-year-old son was verbally abused by Deise supporters following Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Tipperary.

The little boy was confronted by Waterford fans outside the Jury's Croke Park Hotel and, according to Kelly, he was verbally abused about his father's performance in the 1-18 to 3-19 defeat. The former All-Star forward said he was considering whether it was "worth it" to continue playing inter-county hurling.

"He's still very upset," Kelly said.

"You'd have to ask yourself whether it's worth carrying on playing for Waterford, if this is the kind of thing you have to deal with."

The revelation rounds off a weekend when the bad news for Waterford wasn't confined to the field of play. Kelly's county colleague Ken McGrath left for Cork University Hospital immediately after the game to be with his three-year-old daughter who underwent emergency surgery after she was bitten by a dog.






If its true, what sort of moron verbally abuses a 4 year old let alone about his fathers performance in a hurling game?

Apparently so, disgusting behavior from anyone should be ashamed of themselves.