Fanning ‘can’t wait’ to get started as he looks to banish recent Déise heartache

NEW Waterford manager Paraic Fanning says he wants to use some of the hurt he experienced watching the Déise lose the All-Ireland final to Galway and channel that into the group in 2019.

Waterford lost the 2017 decider to Galway and last season they faltered when they were relegated from Division 1A in the NHL and failed to get out of the Munster Championship under the new format.

Fanning will take charge of Waterford for the first time tomorrow evening when they take on Cork in the Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League in Mallow.

Fanningiskeentomakean immediate impression in the championship and said no further incentive is needed than to look back at how close they were to ultimate glory just 15 months ago.

“I was in Croke Park with my wife and four kids. We were togged out like every other supporter wishing the lads over the line.

“Trying to get over that line, that is what we want with Waterford, is to have that chance to go there again and see can we go that little bit further. That is the challenge for us all.

“We were getting there and then unfortunately we just didn’t get over the line. But it was encouraging in many ways. We knew we had a chance. Our hope is to get back there.

“It was a long road home having built up to it. I was there as a supporter and now having a go at trying to get back there as manager is a massive challenge but it’s very exciting.”

Fanning previously served as a coach with Waterford and Wexford where he worked alongside Davy Fitzgerald in both roles.

“We didn’t really know each other at all. He knew of me through Fitzgibbon in Waterford. When he got the job in Waterford he just made a phone call and asked would I be interested in working with him,” said Fanning.

“WemetandhadachatandI have to say straight away I knew it was something I wanted to do.

“We have been good friends since. I have the height of respect for him and got on well with him. That’s my experiences with him and I found them very positive.

“I have that bit of passion as well, I am very passionate about my own county and where I am from. I am hugely passionate about hurling. That’s not going to change.

Measured

“We will be as measured as we can be at times. But I am sure there will be one or two occasions during the year, hopefully we won’t get too passionate. It has to be controlled.

“But I just love hurling, the excitement of getting ready to go and the challenge that this is going to bring is massive for us. I can’t wait for it.

“We want to be at our best for the championship – that’s not to say we don’t want to do well in the league, we do. We want to get out of 1B if we can. We want to try and push as far as we can in the league.

“The way it is broken up anyway with the break in the month of April which isn’t changing allows a team to go so far and push to a certain level for the league, and come again when they come for the championship.

“We will be looking to do as well as we can in both competitions.”