He tries to keep the eyes down. They are feverish about their hurling in Waterford now, with explosions of blue and white in every town and conversation about little other than the game. Their devotion grows more resolute with each passing pilgrimage and hundreds are turning up at training to eye their pride. Key attacker Paul Flynn, though, just tries to keep life nice and normal.

"I just prefer to avoid all that, if possible. There is a real buzz around here certainly and it's terrific for the people but, personally, I like to keep it low-key."

It doesn't take all that long to grow accustomed to the big time. When this epic summer finally ceases, National League hurling will surely seem like sheer drudgery to the Waterford boys. But they respect the league. That's where it all began for them this year.

"Particularly in the play-off stages, when we were faced with matches which we had to win. Getting to the final and experiencing loss (to Cork) there helped us in the long run. That run and the belief we have now prepared us for the (championship) match against Tipperary."

Flynn was electric that day, surging through the Tipperary defence at the close of a match which Waterford seemed to turn on pure, desperate hunger. Their rising seemed to have an irresistibility about it, but it didn't seem so clear-cut to the players.

"Not at all, they rapped two balls off the bar which could have changed everything. Even when we hit those seven unanswered points, the match went to the last puck, we never reached the comfort zone. But to beat Tipp, that really set us going."

A fervour spread through Waterford ranks that afternoon in the underbelly of Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Supporters announced the second coming and the talk was of taking Munster. Didn't happen, and the team was left with sore bones and plenty of hindsight.

"What the Clare games taught us was what is required to win out in situations like that, where you have huge pressure and live TV and the concentration level needed is just incredible. But we are aware of that now."

At 25, Flynn has youth enough not to be tainted by his county's poor years but he made his debut for the county in one of the most infamous hours; the home loss to Kerry in the 1993 championship. He is well acquainted with the hollow side of the sport.

"Back then, you went out hoping that your opponents would hurl below themselves and your team might rise above themselves. There was no real purpose or conviction about what we did.

"It's difficult to pinpoint why we changed. There was never one large obstacle there, it was more a combination of things. I remember watching Clare break through in 1995 and it was great, everyone was really happy for them. But it didn't make you feel as though Waterford would inevitably do the same. We just brought in small things and our game has improved."

Like the rest of the Waterford players, he cites the influence of Gerald McCarthy as being central to their resurgence. "I am too young to remember Gerald playing but he comes from a winning tradition and he is a winner, which rubbed off on us. He brought about a more professional attitude, there was simply no messing about. It became apparent that he hated losing and he didn't take long in getting that across to us."

Paul Flynn's father Pat hurled through Waterford's lean days and now he stands in the crowd, elated by the sudden promise. "For people like my father, these games are great to see.

"He never got an opportunity to play championship in Croke Park, so seeing Waterford play there is special. I wouldn't go so far as to say me being there helps him sort of realise a dream or anything. He just likes to see a bit of winning."

And yet in real terms, Waterford have won nothing bar hearts. Bit of a paradox in what has been a fantastic season.

"It's true. I suppose a lot of people would say that this has been a really successful year for us as it stands. It is progress. But, I think, having been beaten in Munster and the league, we would all be disappointed to finish by losing an All-Ireland semi-final. We want to go further."