It dozen look good for Deise
WATERFORD boss Davy Fitzgerald’s ambitions of securing a top three finish in Division 1A have been undermined by injuries to up to 12 frontline players.
While Waterford made a positive start to the campaign with a 12-point victory over Offaly in Tullamore last Sunday, much stiffer tests lie ahead, starting with Clare’s visit to Walsh Park this Sunday.
For that game, Fitzgerald will be without long-term absentee Tadhg de Burca, who is still a few weeks away from fitness after an Achilles injury.
Iarlaith Daly, Conor Prunty, Jack Fagan, Billy Nolan, Jamie Barron, Peter Hogan, Dessie Hutchinson, Colin Dunford and Kieran Bennett are also out.
Patrick Fitzgerald is doubtful after picking up a suspected hamstring injury while in action for WIT this
week, while Calum Lyons is also a significant doubt after suffering a knock against Offaly.
The majority of those dozen would be automatic starters for Fitzgerald, who is in his second year at the helm in what is his second stint in charge of the Deise.
In previous seasons, there would be little material impact as the top counties were in virtually no danger of relegation, but with the League being restructured in 2025, only the top three in Divisions 1A and 1B are guaranteed a spot in the new-look top flight next year, along with the best fourth-placed team.
That injury list is unlikely to have shortened considerably by the time Waterford travel to take on Cork on February 25.
They then round out their Division 1A with home ties against Wexford and Kilkenny on March 10 and 16.