Paraic Fanning knows what Waterford's championship return to Walsh Park means to his people. He was in the crowd the last time the Deise played a Munster championship game there.
The now 11,000 capacity ground will be heaving tomorrow afternoon for the visit of Clare after Waterford fought so hard to get their home advantage back for this second year of the round robin series.
It is 23 years since the Deise last hosted a home championship game, a 1-14 to 1-11 defeat to Tipperary in a game that boasted talents such as Nicky English, Paul Flynn and John Leahy.
“I wasn't even a kid, I would've been in my twenties," quipped Fanning, who took over the reins from Derek McGrath after last summer.
"That Tipp game was Ken McGrath's debut for Waterford. It was heaving that day, a great game. Waterford were up against the odds and could have won it.
"But the memories there are so few and far between. There weren't too many big championship games there.
"I was lucky enough in that my family was always steeped in hurling and we were always going to matches all the time, be it in Thurles, Limerick or Cork, or wherever they were.
"I remember going across the river in the boat with my father to watch games in Pairc Ui Chaoimh..
“There's always a big buzz about Munster championship hurling - but there's an extra buzz about having it in Waterford - it's exciting even for a lot of the kids to see it come here.
"The place will be heaving again."
JJ Delaney intrigued by Dublin's approach to Kilkenny clash
The Deise are intent on making home advantage count at last.
Not being able to play either of their two home games last summer certainly didn't help the cause but Waterford were also crippled by an extensive injury list.
This time around they are fighting fit and Fanning is counting on familiar surroundings giving his players that vital edge.
"We only had a brief taste of it at the back end of the league, with the home game against Clare," he pointed out. "Obviously we're familiar with Walsh Park and that will help us.
"The lads play a lot of their club games there and we're familiar with where we will go beforehand and after it. That all helps - as opposed to planning where you're going and timing it and all that.
"We can do it spot on in our home patch.”
But does it increase expectations?
“There will always be pressure on you, that's the reality for all of us" reasoned Fanning, who had previously worked with Davy Fitzgerald in Wexdord.
"We have four games to play and you have to be very careful. If you don't win the first one, it's far from game over.
Joe McDonagh Cup preview: Offaly host Laois while Antrim welcome Kerry
"But you could still lose the next three so obviously if you can get off to a good start it helps because everyone we play are contenders."
In that league game against Clare, Waterford didn't hold back and ran out easy winners.
"I said at the time that the quarter-final, had we won it or had we lost it, wouldn't have a huge bearing on the 12th of May," Fanning remarked.
"So we know that Clare got a dry run that day as regards Walsh Park. It's going to be massive game for both of us".
Verdict
Home advantage can mean a lot in the Munster championship, as Clare can confirm after enjoying the bounce of two wins at Cusack Park last summer.
One of those victories came against Waterford in round two. If 2018 was the lowest point for the team under Derek McGrath, the Clare defeat was the nadir with a heap of injuries suffered on top of Kevin Moran's red card.
It's a revitalised Waterford that will take to the pitch to an electric Walsh Park atmosphere and it should be a cracker. Waterford to edge it on home soil against a strong Banner outfit.
If you haven't already, be sure to like our Irish Mirror Sport and Irish Mirror GAA pages on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
