In 2005, Dickie Roche – a former Waterford goalkeeper and Mount Sion club man – brought out a hurling book that makes essential reading for anyone with a strong interest in Waterford hurling and GAA.
A Story of Hurling in Waterford
entitled “A Story of Hurling in Waterford”, It’s a painstakingly compiled record of all the championship campaigns of the Waterford county hurling teams, as well as the county finals.
Not only does it give the relevant scores of each game, it also gives an account of the matches themselves. Here’s an extract, for example, from the year 1963:
“After the heavy defeat in the 1962 Munster Final, Waterford were keen to get back for another crack at the title. They played Limerick at Thurles in the Semi-final. Waterford lined out without Tom Cheasty and lost Austin Flynn through injury during the game. With a good all round performance they ended up with a six point win 2-15 to 3-16. The scene was now set for a repeat of the 1962 final with Tipperary and the good news was that Tom Cheasty and Austin Flynn were fit to start this game. The game itself was a tense struggle with hard knocks given and taken on both sides. Tipperary had the better of the first half and held a two point lead going into the break, 0-5 to 0-3. The second half started with Tipperary adding another point but at this stage Waterford brought on M. Dempsey at centre field and things began to go their way. Phil Grimes was in great form from placed balls and soon Waterford were in front, Grimes weighing in with eight of Waterford’s eleven point total. Tipperary had a goal disallowed and had some close in frees saved by a very solid Waterford defence and held on for a three point win. There were no goals scored due to good goalkeeping from e. Power (i.e. Ned Power) and R. Mounsey (Tipperary).”
A simple idea – to catalogue all the matches that have mattered over the years of Waterford hurling but no-one had done it until this former Waterford All-Ireland goalkeeper did it himself. One of the best hurling books you’ll ever read!
“My Father: A Hurling Revolutionary, the life and times of Ned Power” is out on paperback at the end of November 2009. Click here for further information, pre-order and excerpt.