Gavin Cummiskey talks to Waterford's Paul Flynn who is hopeful of a good championship run if they can get their full complement of players.

Let's stop in on Waterford hurling. Paul Flynn is our guide. If one believes the local media, the footballers have a better chance of winning in Killarney on May 21st than the hurlers have of taking out Limerick or Tipperary on June 4th.

"We've had our knockers," said Flynn. "The local media and local radio down below have gone bananas in the last two weeks over the hurling team. It was really just a free-for-all.

"If we had gone through the league unbeaten, which could have happened just as handy, we'd be after winning the All-Ireland already down there. We've had a couple of ex-players phoning and giving out."

Some context is required. Waterford have four hurling megastars - John Mullane, Eoin Kelly, Ken McGrath and Flynn.

McGrath just had keyhole surgery on an old knee wound but will be playing club championship for Mount Sion this weekend. Mullane appears to have a serious injury. A fracture somewhere around the elbow. He won't reappear until mid-summer.

Kelly will not be hurling until July 2nd after receiving a 12-week ban for lashing across an Offaly man's bow in a league encounter. At least Flynn got only four weeks for the straight red he received in the dying seconds of the league quarter-final defeat to Limerick.

"Three minutes into injury time. Yeah, good idea. I just got fed up taking punishment and the referee doing nothing for us. I wouldn't mind if it was a pull. It was a flick . . . "

Flynn will be back in just over a week.

He went back through the painful catalogue of Waterford hurling in recent times. Championship structures played havoc with their dreams of attaining the Liam MacCarthy Cup. Two years ago they met Kilkenny in an All-Ireland semi-final after a seven-week lay-off. That seemed to hurt the most.

"We gave them three terrible goals in the first half but we had them on the rack. Their legs were gone, because of the hurling they had done, for the last quarter of an hour but we never threatened the goal. We got 18 points that day. They got 3-12. They won by three points."

Flynn was the only forward to come out of that game with his reputation intact.

Last year they returned to the well but it simply never happened. Too many obstacles in the way.

"Last year Ken broke his collarbone against Kilkenny in the league. He didn't actually train until a week before the first Munster championship game and in fairness he did very well. Then I happened to do my knee ligaments before that game as well. Last year was a complete write-off for me. I shouldn't have even played any of the qualifiers or the quarter-final because I was totally immobile.

"I suppose hindsight is a great thing. We always thought if one ball fell maybe it might . . ." he trails off before, "You are always living in hope.

"John Mullane was missing the year before when we played Kilkenny. We have never had the full complement when we have come into the latter stages so hopefully this year, when Eoin Kelly returns after three months and if John Mullane gets fit, we will have our full complement when we really need it."

Flynn refuses to write off the Munster championship but both Kelly and Mullane are not going to be back for the Munster final on June 25th. "In my mind we will still be trying to win the Munster championship.

"If we don't the other avenue of opportunity is the qualifiers and making the quarter-finals the other way. Once you get to the quarter-finals, no matter how you get there, you still have the same chance as the lads who won a Leinster and Munster championship.

"Hopefully everyone will be back. We are not looking at the qualifiers - I'm only stating it is another option for us but obviously missing key players like Eoin and John is difficult for any team. But two lads could slip in under the radar with no fear and do the job for us. We'll have to wait and see."

Does he ever get fed up with it all? "

About twice a day. I dunno it's just something I have done since I have been able to do it. I'm at it now 14 years. It gets harder every year but I don't know."

We think he does know. Waterford need him now more than ever.