DEISE STAR OFF SQUAD FOR AN EXTENDED TIME
WATERFORD boss Derek Mcgrath has revealed Shane Bennett is taking an extended break from the panel.
Mcgrath is hopeful that the Ballysaggart man (inset) will return during the League but reported better news with Tom Devine set to link up with the panel again.
Devine withdrew from the squad last April to go travelling and missed out as Waterford reached a first All-ireland final in nine years, which they lost to Galway, though Bennett started every game over the course of their Championship run.
Mcgrath explained: “Shane Bennett is taking a bit of a break. He’s been on the road for the last three years so we’re just giving him a bit of time more than anything else.
“We didn’t meet, we spoke over the phone, but he’s having a small bit of a break and we’re hoping he’ll come back in the spring.
“A lot of these guys Patrick [Curran], Stephen [Bennett], Shane, Tom, Tadhg [de Burca] - they were brought into the senior set-up straight from minor, and they’ve been on a three-year relentless drive since for the Holy Grail. People don’t stand back and see that.
“I wouldn’t say they’re cheesed off but it’s important to stand back and give them the space necessary. It’s what happened last year with Tom, he wanted to go travelling, so we can’t be hypocritical in how we approach things.”
All-star Jamie
Barron missed out on The Nire’s
Waterford SFC final loss to Stradbally on Sunday due to a quad injury “that might take a bit of time”, while Mcgrath (below) outlined that they will not be competing in the upcoming Munster SHL as they don’t return from their team holiday to New York and Cancun until January 6, a week after the competition gets underway.
The squad will be starting collective training in the coming weeks and Mcgrath added: “We’re finding it hard to get fellas together because Ballygunner went so far in Munster. It’d be unwise to ask them back straight away, for instance.
“Like everyone, we’re doing a bit in the gym and so on, but you’d hope that momentum from getting to the All-ireland would get you some way into the League, but the other side is you’re worried you don’t have enough done ahead of the League when other teams are clearly focused on that competition.
“You don’t want to get carried away with looking beyond the League, but there’s definitely a new dynamic with the new
Championship format.”