I have often said that the wing play of that Waterford team, feeding off a sturdy central spine would have been unbeatable had that group of players been born a decade later to have played under the ‘new’ rules of the game introduced in the early 70’s.

Austin Flynn at full back provided a solid protection for Ned Power, the stylist goalkeeper from Tallow. (Goalkeepers in those days needed all the protection that they could get!). Martin Og Morrissey marshalled the defence from centre back. Philly Grimes and Seamus Power were probably two of the greatest mid field combinations to perform at no.’s 8 & 9. The inimitable Tom Cheasty at centre half forward was the powerhouse through which all their attacking moves were created. On the wings, players like Frankie Walsh, Larry Guinan, Mick Flannelly, Johnny O’Connor were both versatile and stylish and fed off the high-powered engine working tirelessly down the middle.

As is well documented, that group of players played in three All-Irelands during that period, having to overcome the dominance of Tipperary in Munster to do so. On each occasion they opposed Kilkenny in the finals, losing two and winning in a replay in 1959.

Having taken part in the minor final some minutes before, and recovering from a 3 point defeat by a Jimmy Doyle inspired Tipperary team, the early exchanges in the 1957 final went a little over my head as we sat in the old seats behind the goal licking our wounds. Before we went out to take our seats, I recall Mick Duggan, a minor selector coming in to tell us that there was a movie star in the senior dressing room, who was getting a briefing from the Director on the pre-match parade! We all peeped in to see John Gregson, a 50’s film star sitting on the seat togged out in a black & amber strip. A puzzled ‘buzz’ from the Kilkenny supporters circled around Croke Park as they tried to identify the strange face, wearing number 16 jersey parading with their team. Had the selectors pulled some sort of last minute stunt with a surprise selection? The papers told the story the next day that a scene for the new movie, "Rooney" had been filmed in Croke Park in front of 71,000 hurling fans.

From the traditional minor team seats of the time, which were low and located behind the goal, it was difficult to get a good overall view of the game, but we certainly captured the goal- mouth action. I recall the fearless Ollie Walsh’s magnificent saves, as the Waterford forwards pounded the Kilkenny goal trying to unsettle the youthful Thomastown star. I recall Mick Kenny’s two great goals along with his 5 points, Billy Dwyer’s constant tormenting of the Waterford full back line with his forceful style, leading to two great goals, and the flying Denis Heaslip tearing down the wing setting up and getting his usual quota of points. The abiding memory of this heart-stopping pulsating game was the winning point scored from his knees by captain, Mickey Kelly in the dying minutes.

The two teams met two years after in another thrilling encounter, and I again had to sit in the same location having been sensationally defeated by the Tipperary minors by a last minute goal created from a wrong line-ball decision. Olly was again in magnificent form in the senior game, keeping a clean sheet up to the last minute deflected goal that snatched a draw for Waterford. Kilkenny’s 19 year-old Tommy O’Connell burst on the scene scoring three great opportunistic goals in his first All-Ireland. I also recall Paddy Buggy’s stylish performance at wing-back, breaking up and clearing many of Waterford’s attacking efforts.

My disappointment at losing another minor final was quickly put behind me, when to my surprise I got the call to join the senior panel for the replay. It was, of course an amazing experience to sit in the dressing room on that first night’s training session and to see all my heroes in the same room! Sean Clohosey, Ollie Walsh, Paddy Buggy, Denis Heaslip, Johnny McGovern, The Link and Tom Walsh. I was fortunate that the trainer was my old coach and mentor from St. Kieran’s, Fr. Tommy Maher. He put me at ease early on, and gave me confidence to train and play the type of game he had coached me to do. Johnny McGovern had been injured in the drawn game, but the selectors took a chance on his fitness for the replay. While I was not selected to start the game, I remember on the last night’s training, Fr. Maher put me on notice that it was a possibility that I could be introduced should Johnny’s shoulder injury force him to retire from the game. Unfortunately for Johnny, that did happen and I came into the game after about 15 minutes. I have to admit that I was overawed for the first half. I did find that I began to get to grips with the game, and to work better with the team in the second half, but Kilkenny were overwhelmed by Waterford and were beaten by 8 points at the finish. One of my club mates came to me afterwards to console me by saying that I was the only Kilkenny player to score in the second half! Unfortunately that was a measly 2 points, which had no impact on any sort of recovery.

Having been beaten in 2 All-Ireland finals in that year, (winning only the Colleges title), I was beginning to wonder if my day would ever come.

It did come in 1963 in a historic 3^rd meeting of Kilkenny and Waterford in that era. Waterford had most of the players from 1957/59, but Kilkenny had built up a new team with new young blood such as Fan Larkin, Seamie Cleere, Ted Carroll, Martin Coogan, Tom Murphy, and the 19 year old Tom Walsh. The papers billed the game as "Experience versus Youth". Waterford were hot favourites, but Fr. Maher was fired up to ensure that Kilkenny would revenge 1959, and our recollection of his pre-match speech in the Hollybrook Hotel in Clontarf still stirs the butterflies in the bellies of those of us who were present on the day. I had practised my free-taking diligently in our training camp in Dublin, and it worked well for me on the day. The four Dublin-based players joined the training at Nowlan Park as the event drew near. I recall Ollie’s first and last vital saves, the early goals from Tom Walsh and Tom Murphy that set us on the road to victory. The lighter but tenacious Ted Carroll curbing the threat of Waterford’s Tom Cheasty with a gutsy display, and Seamie Cleere’s performance that earned him the "Man of the Match" award with a stylish performance at wing back.

While we are lucky in Kilkenny to get opportunities to win a number of medals, the first is always very special, and much treasured.

Waterford are also fielding an experienced team with many miles on the clock for the 2008 final. Can it be billed "Experience versus Youth" again? I don’t think so. Kilkenny have the edge in ‘youth’ but they also have the edge in All-Ireland experience, but all of us in Kilkenny hope that the result will be the same as 1963!