McGrath's versatility was a double-edged sword

Diarmuid O’Flynn

THE RETIREMENT of Ken McGrath, coming as it does at a time when the GAA is crying out for marquee names, is a blow not just to Waterford but to hurling in general.

One of the finest hurlers of his generation, big and strong, superb athleticism combined with sublime stickwork, even before Waterford finally made their Munster championship breakthrough in 2002 Ken McGrath was already recognised as being among the very best in the game, up there with Kilkenny’s Henry Shefflin, Tipperary’s Eoin Kelly and Cork’s Brian Corcoran. 

That 2002 Munster final win was one of his finest hours; up against red-hot favourites and reigning All-Ireland champions Tipperary, Ken’s seven points from play inspired Waterford to its first provincial title since 1963, smashing a long and heart-breaking losing sequence in Munster.

Son of a famous father, Pat McGrath, who starred with Waterford in the 1970s and 80s, Ken made his senior championship debut in June 1996, against Tipperary in the Munster semi-final. In fact, he set what is almost certainly a unique record in that he played minor, U21 and senior inter-county championship in theat same month.

It was a losing debut though, a 1-14 to 1-11 reversal in favour of Tipperary, but the teenage Ken survived the full 70 minutes, scored his first championship point in the 27th minute to put Waterford temporarily ahead.  From that point on Ken became an ever-present with Waterford, was soon a mainstay of the side.

Versatility was his gift, but also his curse.  Over the years he has manned every pivotal position on the team, from full-back to full-forward and all central positions in between.  He was centre-forward in that Munster final of 2002, from where he scored all those magnificent points; two years later and on another glorious Munster final day, he was at centre-back, made a phenomenal catch in the dying moments to deny Cork any chance of a late equaliser. 

In the All-Ireland final of 2008 (his only appearance on hurling’s biggest day, and a most forgettable day it turned out to be) he was full-back, helpless in the face of an early Kilkenny barrage as the Cats went on the rampage, won 3-30 to 1-13.  He has also played at full-forward, at wing-back, wing-forward, and last Sunday, in his final appearance for Waterford, he was in midfield. 

Fittingly it was another win over Waterford’s greatest current rivals, Cork, this time a league game in Dungarvan before a bumper crowd. Not so fittingly, however, Ken was taken off early in the second-half, replaced by Eoin Kelly, which probably prompted his decision to retire.

What if he hadn’t been so versatile, however, what if Waterford had picked him in just one position and left him there, how would his career have panned out?  Great players have always been identified with certain positions; mightn't have been a single position, but Christy Ring won renown as a forward, as did Mick Mackey, Jimmy Doyle, Nicky Rackard and Eddie Keher back in the day; John Doyle was a defender of truly legendary status, switching from wing-back to the corner in his later years, while there are a whole host of famous full-backs and centre-backs. 

Ken’s problem, however, was that he was one day a defender, the next an attacker, and in between, a midfielder.  It’s much harder to be a star in all those positions, and Ken’s problem in latter years with Waterford was that while he was out roaming the plains, Micheál ‘Brick’ Walsh got an opportunity to establish himself in what many saw as Ken’s best position, centre-back, and did so extremely successfully.

It left the Mount Sion star without a true home so that when he struggled elsewhere, there was nowhere to go but the bench.  In a way, a sad end to what was truly a stellar career, especially now that glory beckons again for the Decies, manager Davy Fitzgerald building a panel of real depth and talent.

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Ken McGrath's parting words of advice (taken from Fired Up GAA): "Aside from having the correct grip, the best advice any young hurler can get is this - don’t go judging yourself on the first 10 minutes of a game, don’t get down on yourself because everything doesn’t start off great. 

"Stick in there and keep calm, you're only upsetting yourself if you don’t.  I was a good way into my own career before I fully realised the importance of staying calm – if I went back again, that’s the main bit I would change. 

"Enjoy your hurling; if you don’t, you won’t play well anyway.  I always loved the craic and the banter with the lads.  More than all the big games in Semple Stadium and Croke Park, what I’ll remember when I’m gone are the sunny evenings training in Walsh Park.

Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/Ip9v6mYY4YQ/post.aspx

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