IT’S NOT A CRYING SHANE

SHANE BENNETT will not be featuring for Waterford in 2018.

One of the stars of the side that reached last year’s All-ireland hurling final, Bennett (right) is taking an extended break.

Deise boss Derek Mcgrath said: “He’s a very important player for us but he’s absolutely entitled not to commit to it as well. We have to have respect for that.

“We’ll just move forward now and see where we go in the Championship and we wish Shane well. He’s a great lad.” terms of an absolute top two or top three team.

“What is very relevant is the nature of the people in each county, they long for it so much. “They want it so much that everything perhaps is over-analysed and over-scrutinised within the county.

“That’s why I’d have great admiration for [Stephen] Rochford from afar, just even tactical decisions he made coming into the Kerry game, with the Donaghy-o’shea situation. Just not being afraid. “Even back to the Allireland final replay where he replaced the goalkeeper a couple of years ago. He had a plan around the kickouts and he was willing to back himself on it.”