ALBION MY WAY

Dessie: I was always Brighton and get keen to quit back home

WATERFORD hurler Dessie Hutchinson always felt like he was missing out on something better when he was living the life of a professional footballer with Brighton and Hove Albion.

Hutchinson spent three seasons progressing through the grades of the Premiership outfit, but in 2018 he returned home to play with Waterford United.

But it was seeing the success of his brothers Wayne and JJ, and his Ballygunner club mates that convinced him it was time to try his lot with the GAA again.

Last year he was involved with Benji Whelan’s footballers, and this season he has flourished under Liam Cahill’s guidance in the hurling panel (above).

But while he was away Waterford reached the 2017 All-ireland final and Ballygunner racked up the Waterford titles. It was tough watching from afar.

“It was definitely hard. That is something that I always wanted to get back to. In the back of my mind, even when I was playing soccer and even when I was going well at it, there was always something in the back of my mind saying

‘Jesus I wish I was there’

“Especially when my two brothers had been part of that team now.

Seeing them winning and stuff you wish I was there. All my best friends are playing with Ballygunner too, so it was hard missing out,” Hutchinson told The Backdoor Hurling Show.

Hutchinson played U19 soccer for Ireland and impressed in his time with Brighton, and when he returned home to play with Waterford United he helped them to a fourth placed finish in 2018.

A return to action with Ballygunner brought him a coveted first county title last season, but he admits his eyes have been opened by the intensity of the inter county football and hurling scenes.

“The footballers gave me my first insight into inter-county. Anybody that says Waterford don’t put much into football or anything like that it’s not right because they train as hard as any other county team in the country.

“This season with the hurlers has been brilliant. We were really looking forward to the Championship.

“It has been a great few months, the whole team has really got behind the management. Everybody is happy there, nobody can complain about anything, it is just really going in the right direction.

“I didn’t expect it so soon after only getting back playing since last year. Speaking on behalf of myself and all the other players it has

been really good.”