Nigel Coad the man who along with Derek Hearne has organised the 21st anniversary of Waterford's Inter League triumph, the last time the Waterford League won the competition.
The game was played in Milebush Park on Sunday, March 26th, 1995 and it’s hard to imagine that Waterford have not won the competition during the intervening years.
The manager of the team was Kealon O’Neill of Dungarvan United and the team captain was Mark Hyslop who was also a Dungarvan United player.
What makes the anniversary night special is that every member of the squad will be present as indeed will the entire management and coaching staff.
The idea of getting everyone together has been in the melting pot for some years but it never got off the ground but thanks to the hard graft of Nigel Coad and Derek Hearne the big night is now finally going to take place.
The current Waterford Junior League committee have supported the venture financially and the MC on the night will be The Munster Express soccer correspondent Matt Keane. The pen-pictures of the Waterford players in the match programme read as follows.
Mark Hyslop; (Dungarvan United) Team captain.
He is also a member of the Oscar Traynor side and won an Inter League Youths medal in 1992. Holds five league medals and won a Munster Youths Cup runner-up medal in 1994 and a Kennedy Cup runner-up medal in 1991. Aged 17 he is a student in Dungarvan Technical College.
David Whittle (Bohemians); A midfielder who was recently voted Waterford Referee’s Society Youth Player of the Year. Won a Kennedy Cup medal in 1993 and holds league and cup medals at all age levels and he also won an underage Under 14 FAI School’s medal with De La Salle in 1993. Aged 16.
Richie Kennedy (Carrick United); Joined Carrick from Rathgormack this season and won a Kennedy Cup medal in 1993. Aged 16 he is an excellent distributor of the ball. A student at Carrick CBS he will also feature in the FAI Munster School’s final next week.
Nigel Coad (Bohemians); Joined Bohs from Southend United he has won Under 17 and Under 18 cup medals. Possibly the most skillful player in the squad and he has attracted attention from Nottingham Forest. Age 18 he holds one league medal. He is the son of Seamie Coad who starred for Waterford FC during the 1960’s.
Derek Hearne (Southend); A very talented goalkeeper who is in excellent form. He joined Southend from St Saviour’s. Won the Southend United Player of the Year Award last season. He is employed with Douglas Engineering Ltd. Aged 17.
Glen Arrigan (Railway Athletic); Plays his weekly football in Division B League. He was the goalkeeper on the 1992 Kennedy Cup team which were beaten in the final. A student at St Anne’s, Cappoquin. Aged 16.
Craig Maher (Southend); An attacking full-back who is very doubtful for the final following a bad knee injury in the semi-final. He played with St Saviour’s, Villa and Bohs before joining Southend last season. Holds one league medal and he is employed in The Tower Hotel. Aged 18, Craig spent four weeks on trial with Stoke City last July.
Aidan Landers (Dungarvan United); An excellent footballer who plays sweeper. He joined Dungarvan from Ballinroad. Holder of five league medals. He was a member of the Dungarvan team which was beaten in the Munster Youths Cup final last season. A student in St Augustine’s and he is aged 18.
Robert Walsh (Southend); A towering centre-back who joined Southend from Hibs. He holds one league medal and is currently part of the Irish School’s international team. Aged 17.
Brian Grace (Carrick); He has played all of his football with Carrick and won a league medal last season. A skilful centre-half he is a student at Carrick Vocational School. Aged 17.
Derek Jordan (Johnville); A tough tackling left-back he joined Johnville from Ferrybank. Holder of three league medals he won Under 17 and Under 18 medals last season. Aged 18 he is employed with Meadow Meats.
Liam Maher (Bohs); He has recovered from injury and is a solid defender who has won two international caps at Under 15 level against France and Gemany. Captain of the 1992 Kennedy Cup runner’s-up team. He has won four league medals with Bohs. A student at De La Salle. Aged 16.
Robert Flynn (Villa); An attack minded right-back who joined Villa from Bohs. He has won league and cup medals. Aged 18 he is a student at WRTC and also works as a lifeguard in Waterford Crystal Social Club.
Robert Mullally (Ferrybank); A versatile defender who won a league medal with Ferrybank last week, his second in all. A former Bohs player he is a student in Waterpark College. Aged 17.
Pat McCarthy (Southend); A srtiker with an eye for goal he joined Southend from St Saviour’s. Holds one league medal and spent four weeks on trial with Stoke City last July. Won a Kennedy Cup medal in 1991 and he is an employee of Morris Tedcastle.Eric O’Connor (Johnville); Has adapted very well to an attacking role this season. Played on the Waterford Youth team last season and won a Kennedy Cup runner’s up medal in 1991. Played with the Villa before joining Johnville. He has won two league medals and five cup medals. Aged 18 he is a student at WRTC.
John Mercer (Villa); A pacey forward who has won a league medal and cup medal with the Villa. A student in De La Salle and also works with Jean-ivs. Aged 17.
Kealon O’Neill. (Manager, Dungarvan United); Won an Inter League Youths medal in 1986 and managed the Dungarvan team which won the FAI Youths Cup in 1989.A teacher in St Declan’s, Kilmacthomas.
Michael “Dixie”Deegan (Assistant manager, Dungarvan United); Won a Munster Junior Cup medal with Southend United in 1985 and managed the Dungarvan team which reached the Munster Youths Cup final last season. Occupation is a printer.
Kevin Roche (Coach, Villa); Now in his fourth year with Waterford Youths he has a winners medal from 1993 and a runners-up medal from 1992. He has also been involved in three Kennedy Cup finals, winning one. A former player with Bolton where he won an SFAI Under 15 Evans Cup medal in 1973.
Path to the final: Round I. Waterford 2 South Tipperary 1 (AET) Round 2. Waterford 5 Desmond League 1 Round 3. Kerry 0 Waterford 1. Semi-final. Waterford 1 Munster Senior League 1 (AET. Waterford won 4-3 on penalties)
A little piece of history was created on that magical day back in 1995 as Galway referee Marie Lawton became the first woman to take charge of a national final.