The Big Match is with thanks to George Corbett Skoda

The Waterford minor hurlers are through to the All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship Final for the first time since 2013.

They dispatched of Kilkenny in a thriller at Chadwick’s Wexford Park – the final score reading 2-21 to 2-18 in Waterford’s favour.

Waterford responded valiantly to setbacks throughout, 2-6 from talisman Cormac Spain proving instrumental as the Deise minor stars reached the decider for the first time in 12 years.

There were jubilant scenes at the final whistle, as a sea of white and blue poured out onto the pitch.

Manager James O’Connor expressed his pride in his players after the match, and said the Deise minor players showed the kind of performance he has always considered them capable of.

“It was probably one of the best minor matches I’ve ever seen – and in fairness to our own lads, the attitude they showed, the work rate, the skill level outside there was unreal. It was tough conditions. I’m very proud of each and every one of them outside there. They put themselves in an All-Ireland final, which is hard to believe. We’re there now – and it’s just brilliant.”

“The defence were outstanding, midfield, and same with the forward line. Everyone put in the big shift. I said this earlier, and I kept on saying it, that the group were always going to click, it’s a case of when – they clicked tonight, and I was right, so I’m delighted. I’m seeing that week in, week out at training. Ye got to see it tonight for 63 or 64 minutes. That’s what I’m happy about, I knew if they performed like I’ve been seeing at training, they would win.”

14 June 2025; Waterford players from left Eanna McHugh, Darragh Keane and Pierce Quann celebrate after the Electric Ireland GAA All-Ireland Minor Championship semi-final match between Kilkenny and Waterford Chadwicks Wexford Park in Wexford. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile

“Kilkenny are an exceptional team. They were in an All-Ireland Final last year. They were coming back here to get back into another one to undo what happened last year, and we stopped them in their tracks. I said the last day after the Limerick game, that we played at 70%. Tonight they played up to 95% or 100% of their capacity. There was guys there, and even coming in, they were hurting. You could see the cramp starting with a lot of them. They emptied the lot tonight. Everything was given. There was no more left, but they came out winners because of it.”

The Deise minor boss said Spain’s goals both came at the perfect time when Waterford needed a spark.

“Goals win matches. They always say that. It’s nice to keep the scoreboard ticking over with points, but when you get goals at vital times in games, that’s what wins the matches. Cormac’s second goal was a brilliant goal. It kind of set up the team for the home straight, then we got over the line thanks to it.”

14 June 2025; Cormac Spain of Waterford celebrates after scoring the second goal against Kilkenny during the Electric Ireland GAA All-Ireland Minor Championship semi-final match between Kilkenny and Waterford Chadwicks Wexford Park in Wexford. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile

While last night felt like a watershed moment, for O’Connor and his management team – it’s been the product of three years of hard work.

“What we’ve been doing over the last three years has been unbelievable. There was a couple of lads who have been with me and have been with these lads since they were under-14. A lot of them came in last year with me then, and we brought everyone together, and that was the biggest thing. We’re all working together with the players and this is what we’ve achieved. This is the first bunch of players that really have come through with proper strength and conditioning in Waterford from under 14 level, and now you see the rewards when you do things right. To have a team now in an All-Ireland minor final again, these are things that in Waterford, it doesn’t happen easily, so there needs to be a massive push at all grades.”

Roll on the final.

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