Would you expect any less of the man?
Derek McGrath is the personification of dignity. He's a fine hurling manager, he was a top player but, through it all, he has class to his very core.
Time and time again, he produces these acts that really show the mark of him.
- His response to a mistake by a referee during the league final must've been tough
- What he said to the Kilkenny goalkeeper before they did battle was telling
- His gesture to Tadhg de Búrca's parents before the semi-final win last year speaks for itself
- The writing he had on his hand for the All-Ireland final is a mark of the man
- He got a retired referee a beautiful gift too, just because
Today, even after an injury-ravaged Waterford outfit were screwed out of the most unlikely of wins against Tipperary when the Premier county were awarded a goal that should
never have stood, Derek McGrath kept his class.
As the country lined up to criticise the umpire, the Waterford manager himself drew a firm line under in an interview of the highest quality on Monday's
GAA Hour hurling show.
"There was an immediate parking of it. I think, over the years, there's been a tendency in counties like ourselves - that are long for a breakthrough - to lean on decisions or otherwise," McGrath explained.
"I think it's just important that you move on either way and hope in some karma-like way that things go for you as the season develops.
"It wasn't just to come across like I'm taking the high moral ground, I feel like these decisions are made in actual good faith.
"I don't think they says, 'well, now, I'll make this decision and this will make a game of it or Waterford will be at the cutting end of this decision'. I think it's just a decision made in the spur of the moment and I don't think the thought process behind it is in any way malicious or with any kind of vindictive intent.
"I genuinely believe that."
Listen to the full interview below.
