You get the feeling that this Waterford team would die for one another.
They are a band of brothers and their team-spirit, unity and friendship will certainly ensure that favourites Galway won’t have it all their own way when the sides meet in the All-Ireland final on the first Sunday of September.
Just remember, Galway have never beaten Waterford in ten Championship meetings, and this defiant bunch will be hell-bent on extending this proud record.
The Déise possess one of the most important characteristics a team can have, and that’s getting along with your teammates, having the craic with them, and putting your head on the block for them if it was needed.
Derek McGrath’s men aren’t just brothers on the pitch, they are brothers off it too.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWXUsWun2dJ/?taken-by=tadhgbourke06
All of Waterford’s players possess this never-say-die spirit, with captain Kevin Moran leading by example, and when this is combined with a unity both on and off the field, you’re onto a winner.
Shane Bennett was a dogged presence in the Waterford forward line for every single one of his 54 minutes on the pitch.
He chased lost causes, he made hooks, blocks and invaluable interceptions and visibly ran himself into the ground as he trotted off the pitch an exhausted figure when he was called ashore.
You can be guaranteed that his marker Colm Spillane was only delighted to see the back of him.
Bennett delivered a moment of typical team play in the second half when he won a breaking ball along the sideline that he had no right to even compete for, after he was turned upside-down by a Cork tackler.
The 21-year-old stormed out of the ruck with his head down and in typical barnstorming fashion, he hand passed it onto Austin Gleeson, who eventually collected it and looked destined to score or set up one, until he received a nasty slap off a Cork player.
Bennett would obviously have been out on his feet after he hounded down that ball, but he ran to support Gleeson, and when he was knocked down and looked hurt, Bennett made a sprinting beeline across the pitch to offer him words of praise and encouragement and to see that he was okay.
That’s what this Waterford team is all about, and it was evident again at the final whistle when in Jamie Barron’s post-match interview, he spoke of the motivation the group had to win for their suspended star Tadhg De Búrca, and to ensure he had an All-Ireland final to look forward to.
It was truly heartwarming to see a visibly delighted De Búrca go from teammate to teammate after the game, both congratulating and thanking them.
The reaction of the Waterford crowd to see this told it all.
Jamie Barron delighted Tadhg de Búrca will get to play in an All-Ireland final after @waterfordGAA beat @CorkGAA #SundayGame pic.twitter.com/RQmN9EPxfz
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) August 13, 2017
They are friends off the field, and this carries over onto the field as well.
It was a great day for the Bennetts all round, with brother Kieran playing like an experienced campaigner, despite the fact it was his first Championship start.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKQ-QLDB5F0/?taken-by=shanebennett_24
A team-spirit like that is hard-beaten.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BP03SuYjgZe/?taken-by=aussiegleeson
