2004 Munster final was 'something special'
Related Articles
Tuesday February 16 2010
Ranking the 'Greatest hurling match of the decade' was a popular New Year pastime with the 2002 Kilkenny v Tipperary All-Ireland semi-final and last year's final between the same counties featuring consistently, the 2002 semi this writers choice.
Another match that was mentioned every time was the 2004 Munster final in Thurles, a memorable day in the home of hurling, swashbuckling Waterford inching out Rebel Cork in a high scoring thriller, a cheeky Paul Flynn goal from a free an iconic moment.
On the line with the dashing Decies that day were two men who will be in the Carlow camp this year as Kevin Ryan was a Waterford selector, Gerry Fitzpatrick their physical trainer.
' Most times you'd be so involved you wouldn't realize how good or bad a game was but when the final whistle went I was going beserk on the sideline, then as we walked in off the field Nickey Cashin, another selector, a former Waterford hurler, looked over at me and that look said it all, we just knew we had been involved in something special,' recalls Kevin Ryan with pride.
