CAHILL TO BRING JIM NO ISSUE!

BY

STEPHEN BENNETT says the amount of theories he’s heard about Waterford’s under par Championship is “laughable.”

That includes the idea that their training sessions with Jim Mcguinness undid them.

Waterford won the League, but after edging out Tipperary in their Munster opener, crashed out of the Championship following defeats by Limerick, Cork and Clare.

Donegal All-ireland winning manager Mcguinness came in on a number of occasions to train the team, including ahead of the Cork Championship game, as then manager, Liam Cahill (above )sought an extra edge.

“I met him [Mcguinness] a few times,” said Bennett. “I thought he was brilliant, in fairness.

“All you can do as a player is try and soak up as much information from these fellas as you can. I thought it was brilliant.

“I suppose were at a stage where we had lost to the same team in an All-ireland final and semi-final (Limerick), so would you not try something different? Because what we were trying wasn’t working.

“If that had worked, we would have been the best in the world.”

Bennett continued: “If we had won the Cork match it would have been perfect training. We lost the match so then it’s seen as over-training. Cork were just better than us that day. We weren’t good. Whatever the reason, I don’t know.

“It doesn’t really bother me anymore. We just need to focus on this year.

“The amount of things I’ve heard by now is actually laughable. I’d say I’ve heard about 50 different things that happened. I was like, ‘That definitely didn’t happen.’

“In fairness to the Waterford lads, in the 10 years I’m there, they’re just lovely. There’s no hassle. Ask any player or manager – the players will genuinely do anything.

“The set-up is really good. The physios and the backroom team are good and it’s just really exciting.”