Sean Power reckons Waterford's first All-Ireland U21 hurling title since 1992 will go a long way towards making up for the bitter disappointment of last month's All-Ireland senior semi-final replay loss to Kilkenny.

"We don't win them very often, it's very special when we do," the U21 manager said after 12 of the senior panel helped the Deise to U21 glory in Thurles yesterday.

"The manner in which we executed the victory was just mesmerising. They're a great bunch of players and they work hard for it so we're delighted. We like playing a bit of hurling, an open, expansive game, attacking when we have the ball. We leak a few scores, but we score more than most people."

He added: "It's rare that a county like Waterford can go and win an All-Ireland. The senior grade was heart-breaking for us all, for the players and everyone supporting the team. But this will ease the pain a bit."

Power's opposite number Tony Ward conceded that Galway were beaten by a better team.

"They were strong and they had answers everywhere all over the field," he conceded after his side shipped five goals to the pre-match favourites.

"They are huge. Austin Gleeson, Tom Devine, DJ Foran - they are huge men. We were hoping that maybe we would get them on an off-day and we would punish them a little bit and they might be showing a bit of complacency, but they didn't. They were up for the game and fair play to them."

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