FANNING THEIR FLAMES
Paraic’s planning to light a fire under Deise men to spark big revival
PARAIC FANNING wants to engineer a huge Waterford revival in 2019.
The losing 2017 All-ireland finalists failed to get out of Munster this summer, with their cause badly hit by injury, suspension and the unavailability of Walsh Park for their home games.
But Fanning – who has succeeded Derek Mcgrath in the Deise hot-seat on a two-year deal – believes the Championship will be wide open next year.
“If you pick a period, what we have at the minute most resembles the 90s,” said the Mount Sion man (inset).
“Just look at the results this year – there were so many close games and everyone had a chance of winning.
“Even with all that happened this year, we were very close – the width of a post and a ghost goal away from going through.
“We all know how competitive Munster is and it would be a brave man that would predict the winner next year.
“Derek had a great relationship with his players, it was a very positive environment and in that sense we won’t be looking to reinvent the wheel. We’ll be trying to maintain that.
“We are hoping and planning for a big bounce back in 2019.
“All of the players are ambitious to achieve and it is up to us as a management team to help them.”
Fanning revealed that he met up with Mcgrath, who stepped down after five years in charge, before deciding to go for the position.
Pat Ryan was the early front-runner but in the end it came down to Fanning and double All-ireland club winning boss Mattie Kenny, with Fanning prevailing. He worked as a selector with Davy Fitzgerald in Wexford for the past two years, and with Seamus Plunkett in Laois, but had previously served his time with Waterford in 2010-11, when the county won a Munster title.
“I’m 47 years old so it was now or never,” he told RTE Sport.
“I’ve been knocking round Division 1A, 1B for the past few years so I think that will give me a fair insight into the other teams, it means I’m pretty current and I think it will be a big help.
“I’d have a great relationship with Davy. I’d have picked up a lot from him over the years and I’d hope he might even say the same thing about me.
“The way he manages players, individuals; he’s a super man-manager and he’s tactically very astute.
“I used to be in charge of the B’s in the A’s versus B’s games and we’d always be trying to get one over on him!
“I got a lovely text off him earlier in the week wishing me well and I’m sure our paths will cross on the field over the next while.”