Déise hearts set on home comforts
DESPITE the uncertainty over the redevelopment of Walsh Park, Waterford are holding out hope of playing two of their four Munster SHC games at home next year.
A nightmare Munster campaign in 2018 was brought about, in part, by the loss of their home venue with the county ground ruled out due to its reduced capacity as well as health and safety guidelines.
But following on from the ‘Newbridge or Nowhere’ campaign that saw Croke Park back down over the viability of St Conleth’s Park for Kildare’s All-Ireland SFC qualifier clash with Mayo last June, the Waterford hurlers are insistent on playing at home after having to travel for all four Munster games last year.
‘As far as we’re concerned, we’re still looking at playing the games at home,’ said manager Páraic Fanning at the launch of the 2019 Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League. ‘That would be my view, and I think the view of all of us, that the games should be played in Waterford.
‘I know there’s a process we have to go through in relation to that, but we’ll see how that plays out. Our intention and our hope is that these games would still go ahead in Waterford, as I’ve said before — either in Waterford city or elsewhere in the county.’
Any notion of using Nowlan Park in Kilkenny, as an alternative venue, rather than having to travel to the Gaelic Grounds or Thurles — as was the case last season — was ruled out at a recent Munster Council meeting.
The success of Ballygunner in the Munster Club SHC represents a double-edged sword for Fanning, who succeeds Derek McGrath in the role, as he will have to do without key players such as goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe and the Mahony brothers, Pauric and Philip.
‘There are two sides to that — obviously early on in the League campaign next year we’ll be without the Ballygunner lads, and they’ll be a loss to us, there are some very good players involved with them. But on the other hand, obviously it’s fantastic for Waterford, and for the club themselves, that they’re heading into an All-Ireland semi-final now.
‘We would, of course, be hugely supportive of them doing well in the competition, and we’ve already told the Waterford panellists with Ballygunner that we don’t expect to see them until the All-Ireland club campaign is finished — we’d be hoping that won’t be until it finishes on St Patrick’s Day.
‘That gives other lads a chance to step up to the plate, to try to grab a spot, and that’ll be true of the Munster League and the early part of the National League. Players should see it as an opportunity in that sense.
‘When they (Ballygunner players) fall back in with us, it’ll add enormously to the depth of our panel.
‘If we can find one or two players in the League as well, that’ll add to the competition for places. Obviously, we don’t know how things will pan out but the response has been very positive and we’re looking forward to competitive action again.’
While the Munster Hurling League has a pre-Christmas start this year, Fanning said it offers a worthwhile run-in to the National League, especially for a manager looking to hit the ground running with his new charges.
‘As a new management team we’re going to be looking at the lads and working out fellas’ strengths and weaknesses, even looking at how they approach individual games.
‘That all gives you a better insight into how they deal with competitive matches.
‘In that sense it comes at a good time of the year as well because it leads you into the National League, you’re getting two games and possibly a final, that works out well also.
‘It fits into our schedule well and we’re looking forward to it. Any game we go out to play in, we want to do well and to see if the things we’re working on in training are working in games.
‘We also have our own targets we’re building towards for later in the year, so it’s not the end of the world if this competition doesn’t work out, but we want to be competitive in every game.
‘You’d see with Kilkenny over the years how seriously they treat the Walsh Cup, and when I was involved with Waterford last in 2010 and we won the Munster Championship, we won the then Waterford Crystal League earlier that year.
‘You can’t underestimate the momentum you get from winning.’
One setback for Waterford is that Tom Devine doesn’t look likely to be involved in 2019, robbing Fanning of a powerhouse presence up front.
‘Tom Devine is probably not available next year given his pursuit of a medical career, but we’d be hopeful down the line he might become available again,’ he said.