The Waterford footballers made history last Saturday when they landed their first Championship win since 2011 against Wexford at Innovate Wexford Park. The result was a particularly special one for manager Tom McGlinchey, who has been in the role since 2014.
The win comes after an incredibly frustrating twelve months for the Déise manager as they fell to a tied seventh-placed finish in Divison four earlier this season. He lost six of last year's team who came within a point of Cork and they were hammered by Tipperary in the Munster football quarter-final.
For McGlinchey, Saturday went some way towards making up for it. He told the Balls.ie So Called Weaker Podcast just what it meant to the group.
A super day for Waterford football. I'm absolutely delighted for the players. You know, seven years is a long time. You often hear about seven year itch, but seven years without a Championship win is very long. It is a great reward for the players, especially the lads who are there a long time. The likes of JJ Hutchinson, Thomas O'Gorman, Stephen Prendergast, Tommy Prendergast, who were without a Championship victory, just to have that.
Waterford footballers enjoying a glass of beer and each others company. #apictureoftogetherness. U cud see this picture in black and white many years back. pic.twitter.com/T5uBJEBoVv
— Emmetdoherty (@Emmetdoherty1) June 9, 2018
Today Waterford were handed a tough round two draw, with Monaghan set to travel to Fraher Field. But beyond that, McGlinchey hopes today's victory will provide something to build on down the line.
For the team that were involved, for the supporters and for us in the backroom, last Saturday is huge, absolutely huge. It is very hard to describe those five minutes after you win a Championship game. When you win a Championship game that you haven't won in seven years, it is just seven fold the excitement afterward. It was three or four minutes of total euphoria. It was absolutely fantastic and it makes it all worth it... the old GAA cliche that gets thrown out. It makes all the hard nights in January, February, March worthwhile.
It really does because we are hopeful that the new players who came into the team will be instilled with that confidence, that love they have for football and it might inspire other people to come in and join the frame next year.
The full draw for the round two footballers qualifiers was made today, with the games fixed for the weekend of 23/24 June.
You can listen to the podcast, which includes the entire interview and a look back at the entire weekend's action here.
