Justin McCarthy says that Waterford must hit the ground running to dethrone All Ireland champions Limerick on Saturday. Liam Cahill’s side lost to the Shannonsiders in both the Munster and All Ireland finals last year.
“It’s a huge test for Waterford. Limerick want to prove that they are a great team by winning another All Ireland, that’s the bottom line. If you look back at last year’s All Ireland, Limerick tore into Waterford in the first quarter of an hour. From the word go, they never let them settle. They threw them out of the shape and they dictated the play afterwards. That was the big thing last year I felt. They overpowered them. For Waterford to win, they’ll have to be prepared for this and keep their focus and keep their shape. They can’t be bossed around like they were last year in the first quarter of an hour or twenty minutes.”
McCarthy came up against Limerick twice in 2007. The Cork native recalls the build-up to the Munster final that year. “The Limerick Leader had a big headline that Waterford weren’t good enough and that they were a soft touch. I remember bringing in the paper before they went out and putting it up on the back on the door. ‘Listen lads, this is what we are. We’re going to prove ourselves today. We’re no soft touch.” You could see that they were just egging to get on then.”
McCarthy is currently coach of Cork Divisional side Seandún who are managed by Paul McCarthy, son of another former Waterford manager Gerald McCarthy. “I’ll do it as long as I can. I get enjoyment out of it and I love to see people progressing and trying to win something.”
