Waterford GAA Thread - Mod note post #1

Maybe that’s his level but Can’t see him being given a top job with a Dublin or anyone else. Some of the stuff he’s come out with in the media the past couple of years I don’t think too many people take him seriously any more and he’s probably talked himself out of another intercounty management role at this stage.

Do you expect people to believe that?

What an extremely detailed and dramatic story. First off, I work with two members of the Cork County Board and at no stage was Derek’s name ever mentioned to me. I’ve been quizzed by both these men on every aspect of Waterford hurling from the makeup of the Tony Forristal panel up to am I clued in on the inside track of the senior panel. If Derek was in Cork’s plans in any way shape or form then I’d have heard about it. Without checking, I don’t think Cork have ever had a selector who wasn’t from the county, I’m open to correction on this but I’d be fairly confident that it has never happened. I don’t know why that would change for Derek.

Secondly, how do you know Derek attended an interview with no presentation? Knowing the man, not bothering to prepare any thing is not his style so I don’t believe your story for the reasons mentioned.

I'd say Kingston would be capable of thinking Derek McGrath good enough. Kingston is living in the past. He rehired some backroom dinosaurs during his Cork tenure.

The reality is Derek McGrath is not a top inter county coach or manager. He wouldn't get a job at a top county. No way. Not after the amount of beatings his teams took in finals and semis. And they were beatings. If Dublin take him on it will set back Dublin hurling ten years. He is not ruthless.

Wexford, I'd maybe believe. They must have been desperate. But I think they dodged a bullet there. He is not an inter county coach or manager. He was one, and it didn't work out.

To be honest, he managed a school to two Harty's and went straight into inter county after it... a bit too quick I think.

Derek McGrath after 2016 Munster final:

"The first thing I have to look at is myself. It's my job to have the team prepared in a manner that they will be able to produce a performance that was a lot better than that. It's highly embarrassing and we're very demoralised after it, any analysis of us is probably balanced by how good Tipperary were at times. I thought we started the game reasonably well, Ironically, we went fairly conventional at the start and seemed to be getting a bit of a foothold into it. We pushed on with 25 minutes to go and the floodgates opened, It's very, very disappointing I have to say."

That says it all really.

As for McGrath's activities these days - his own words:

“It actually came about through Fergal Hartley who is friends with a guy who is involved with the Laois minors. Fergal was obviously with us in 2017. I was hang on I’m doing a course in the whole area of psychology before Christmas and I needed a kind of a placement if you like.

“I’m doing a small bit of coaching not a huge amount but I’m liking coming down the road after doing the session. I’m liking the, not less pressurised environment, but an environment where you are dealing with young fellas who are mad to learn and and I’m learning a huge amount myself.

“There’s a full management team in place Liam Dunne from Clough Ballacolla and Johny Fitz who used to play with Laois and Tim Lyons and Ollie Quinlan so there is a team that has been there since Tony Forristal since U14 and I’m just up giving a hand. And look we are part of the chasing pack behind Dublin Kilkenny and Wexford so it in interesting.

“Faythe Harriers have a management team in place, Sack Walsh is the coach, I’ve been up there twice. It’s more an ancillary role more than anything else but I’m doing the 6s 7s and 8s in my own club and up with the Laois minors twice and I have been in Wexford twice in eight weeks but not hugely involved. I’m out still four nights a week with the hurling but it’s not as pressurised, it’s nice.”

Waterford to Galway would be a fair trek numerous times a week

On a more pressing note, did anyone else hear rumours recently that our management team are not nailed down for next year? Disappointing if so as it's a while since we last played so I'd have hoped that meant they'd stay on rather than go through the process again as it's unlikely a successor would be in place for the club championship.

I have just heard a ridiculous story from someone who should know better that Cahill is resigning and McGrath and Brick are taking over.

The source is credible even if the story is incredible. Maybe it’s the heat or waiting for the club championship to start? Whatever about Cahill deciding he has enough, I can’t see the County Board having already made the decision on the replacement.

Apologies to the many people experiencing palpitations.

'In his third season at the helm, Cahill guided Waterford to a national league title but they too failed to qualify for the knock-out stages of the All-Ireland SHC having lost to Limerick, Cork and Clare.

Cahill indicated early last month that he would be staying on but he had yet to discuss plans for 2023 with the county executive and players.'

Not sounding promising, you'd think this would of been sorted sooner

Would the Ballygunner management team be an option if Cahill does go ?

In case of emergency break glass 🆘🆘🆘

Liam Cahill will be appointed Tipperary Senior Hurling Manager by the weekend.

Waterford county board did a review document of 30 pages following their senior hurlers championship exit 

There was recommendations in it for next year. When it was put in front of Cahill he took exception to it 

Row ensued. 

He's gone. 

Whatever about the rumour mill, the Bonnar news out of Tipp is a game changer. If Tipp knock on Cahills door again he will surely not turn it down this time, no matter where his head is at with Waterford.

I hadn't heard anything about a review but I had heard that Cahill was unsettled and posted it here a few days ago.

That would be a double blow for us as we would be back at square one in terms of a new manager and trying to adjust to that. But also Cahill would make Tipp a much better team.

welcome back DMG 💪

What's the general consensus? Do most want Cahill to stay?

I don't know what to think. Standing on the terrace in Ennis I hadn't felt as low at a match since the 08 final and i know we took other hammerings since then but this felt like a year we would be in contention.

We were an absolute sh1tshow in the championship this year. Obviously got the timing of fitness plan all wrong but even tactically he mad some batsh1t decisions this year like in the Limerick game putting the very inexperienced and considerably shorter Tom Barron out of position on potential hurler of the year Aaron Gillane.