Des: Good Deise will be ahead
DESSIE HUTCHINSON was relieved to give the Waterford public something positive to talk about after a “nothing but negative” few weeks.
The Ballygunner bullet poached the Déise’s first goal since February to seal victory over Tipperary.
Even though they were already eliminated from the Championship, Hutchinson felt the pressure to perform after five straight defeats.
“We just had to show something, a bit of pride in ourselves, and all the stuff people were saying about us, give them something positive to talk about because it’s been nothing but negative the past few weeks,” he said.
“That’s not what you want as a Waterford hurler so we’re just delighted to show a bit of pride there.”
Hutchinson was asked how much the criticism hurt the players.
“It’s not even hurt, it’s more disappointment,” he replied. “When you’re coming to Thurles and it’s 10 to one here, it’s not ideal.
“We just have to regroup and that’s something to build on.”
He doesn’t see Waterford as All-ireland contenders for 2024 yet but thinks they should be closer.
“We have the players. We, as players, have to look at ourselves too. We have to find what’s keeping us down that little bit.
“We’re probably not good enough yet to win an All-ireland but we’re definitely good enough to compete.”
Hutchinson was deployed in a two-man full-forward line alongside his teenage clubmate Patrick Fitzgerald, making his full debut. They rattled off three points each in the first half.
“We have a bit of a relationship from the club,” said Hutchinson.
“For his first big game in front of that many people, he’ll just get better and better.”