Derek McGrath (hurler)

Derek McGrath (born 30 May 1976) is an Irish retired hurler who played as a centre-forward for the Waterford senior team. He is a former manager of the Waterford senior team.

Derek McGrath
Personal information
Irish name Derek Mac Craith
Sport Hurling
Position Centre-forward
Born 30 May 1976
Waterford, Ireland
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Occupation Secondary school teacher
Club(s)
Years Club
 St. Saviour's
De La Salle
Club titles
Waterford titles 1
Munster titles 1
Inter-county(ies)*
Years County Apps (scores)
1996-1998
 Waterford 1 (0-00)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles 0
All-Irelands 0
NHL 0
All Stars 0
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 20:25, 24 October 2013.

Born in Waterford, McGrath first played competitive hurling during his schooldays. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of sixteen when he first linked up with the Waterford minor team, before later lining out with the under-21 side. He joined the senior panel for the 1996 championship, and was a seldom used player until he left inter-county hurling after the 1998 championship.

At club level McGrath is a Munster medallist with De La Salle. He also won one championship medal.

In retirement from playing, McGrath became involved in team management and coaching. After guiding De La Salle College to Harty Cup and Croke Cup successes, he managed the De La Salle club to championship success before taking over as Waterford manager.

Playing career

Club

In 2008 McGrath was a member of the extended panel of the De La Salle team that reached the county championship decider. He was introduced as a substitute in the final, as De La Salle claimed a 3-13 to 1-11 defeat of Ballygunner.[1] It was his first championship medal. McGrath later added a Munster medal to his collection following a 0-9 to 0-8 defeat of Thurles Sarsfield's.[2]

Inter-County

McGrath first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Waterford minor hurling team in 1992. He won a Munster medal that year following an exciting two-game saga with provincial kingpins Tipperary. Waterford later qualified for the All-Ireland final, however, Galway were far superior on the day and had an easy 1–13 to 2–4 victory.[3]

A three-year spell with the Waterford minor team, was followed by an unsuccessful few years with the under-21 side.

McGrath joined the Waterford senior hurling team in 1996 and lined out in a number of National Hurling League games and one championship game until he left the panel after 1998.

Managerial career

De La Salle College

McGrath first enjoyed success as coach of the De La Salle College team. In 2007 he guided them to a very first Harty Cup crown following a 2-7 to 0-11 defeat of kingpins St. Flannan's College. What was more remarkable about the victory was that Stephen Power scored De La Salle's entire tally.[4] McGrath's side later claimed the All-Ireland following a narrow 0-13 to 1-9 victory over Kilkenny CBS.[5]

In 2008 McGrath was in charge of the De La Salle College side that set out to defend their provincial and All-Ireland crowns. A 1-11 to 0-7 trouncing of Thurles CBS gave De La Salle College a second successive Harty Cup title.[6] Both sides met again in the subsequent All-Ireland decider, however, a draw was the result on that occasion. The replay was also a close affair with McGrath's De La Salle College claiming a narrow 2-9 to 2-8 victory.[7]

De La Salle

As his club career was coming to an end, McGrath took charge of the De La Salle senior hurling team. 2012 proved a successful year as De La Salle trounced Dungarvan by 1-21 to 0-12 in the championship decider.[8]

Waterford

On 23 October 2013, McGrath was appointed manager of the Waterford senior hurling team.[9][10] On 3 May 2015, Waterford won their first league title since 2007 after a 1-24 to 0-17 win against Cork in the final after an unbeaten campaign.[11][12] On 7 June 2015, Waterford again defeated Cork by 3-19 to 1-21 in the semi-final of the 2015 Munster Championship.[13] In the 2015 Munster Final, Waterford lost to Tipperary on a 0-16 to 0-21 scoreline. Waterford went on to defeat Dublin in the quarter-final of the All-Ireland Championship by 2-21 to 1-19, before losing in the semi-final to Kilkenny on 9 August by 0-18 to 1-21.[14] In September 2015, McGrath was given a three-year extension as Waterford manager.[15] In August 2017, Waterford qualified for the 2017 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final after a 4-19 to 0-20 win against Cork.[16][17] In the final on 3 September, Galway won by 0-26 to 2-17.[18]

In November 2017, McGrath confirmed that he would remain in charge for 2018.[19]

In June 2018, McGrath announced that he would be stepping down as manager of the Waterford team.[20][21]

Career statistics

As a manager
Managerial league-championship record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
PWDLWin %
Waterford 23 October 2013 18 June 2018 58 28 6 24 048.3

Honours

Player
De La Salle
Waterford

Manager
De La Salle College
De La Salle
Waterford

Personal life

Derek McGrath is married to Sarah (sister of Waterford Hurler John Mullane), they have two sons Fionn (15) and Oran(6) Derek is a secondary school teacher in De la Salle as well as being their hurling manager.

References
  1. Kirwan, Eddie (29 October 2010). "Two out of three ain't bad for rampant De La Salle". The Munster Express. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  2. "Munster club glory for De La Salle". Breaking News website. 28 November 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  3. Mullane, John (2 September 2013). "Omens look good for Waterford minors". Irish Independent. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  4. Larkin, Brendan (12 March 2007). "Power shoots DLS to glory". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  5. "Power base sees De La Salle land first title". Irish Independent. 23 April 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  6. Dundon, Noel (10 March 2008). "Harty Dream Ends in a Nightmare for Thurles". Tipperary Star. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  7. Larkin, Brendan (21 April 2008). "De La Salle hold their nerve". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  8. Moynihan, Michael (15 October 2012). "Bigger tests loom for rampant De La Salle". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  9. "Waterford appoint Mcgrath as new hurling manager". Irish Examiner. 23 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  10. "Derek McGrath named new Waterford hurling boss". Irish Independent. 23 October 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  11. "Waterford power to victory". Hogan Stand. 3 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  12. "Waterford's tactical masterclass delivers third ever league title as Cork flounder". Irish Independent. 3 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  13. "Waterford's power surge floors Cork". Irish Independent. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  14. "Kilkenny too strong for Waterford as they book another All-Ireland hurling final place". The 42. 9 August 2015. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  15. "McGrath lands new Deise deal". Irish Independent. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  16. "There's no such thing as 15 on 15 anymore, insists McGrath as he defends Déise tactics". Irish Independent. 23 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  17. "The Big Interview - Derek McGrath". GAA.ie. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  18. "Déise players give their full backing to Derek McGrath as he considers Déise future". Irish Independent. 5 September 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  19. "Derek McGrath ratified as Waterford manager for 2018". The 42. 7 November 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  20. "Austin Gleeson 'absolutely gutted' as Derek McGrath releases heartfelt statement announcing Waterford departure". Irish Independent. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  21. "'This team will be forever ingrained in my heart': Derek McGrath steps down as Déise hurling boss". The 42. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
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