Waterford GAA Thread - Mod note post #1
Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
WE WANT YOU BACK OUT AND GIVING US EVERYTHING”
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2023
Davy Fitzgerald has appealed to the Déise public to get behind his team in larger numbers in 2024. Photo: Inpho.
Davy Fitzgerald has appealed to the Waterford public to get behind the hurlers in bigger numbers next season. The Clare man believes that his team can turn things around after exiting the Munster championship early in 2023.
“We’d be hoping to get more Waterford support out there and I genuinely mean that,” he told WLR’s Lár Na Páirce show. “I think the Waterford people are really good people. I know they’ve had a lot disappointment but so have a lot of counties. I believe that we can turn this and give it a right go. The less negativity you have around the better. Trust me, when you keep saying a team is poor, that won’t help anything. We need as much positivity as we can. I actually know that a lot of the Waterford public are good. We want you back out and giving us everything. Just be as positive as you can.”
The Déise bainsteoir thanked the diehard fans that turned out for the final round win against Tipperary. “There was 20,000 at the game, I think 2,000 were Waterford. I have to say they were incredible, it made such a difference. Listen, we work very hard. If you keep putting pressure on and keep knocking, that’s not going to help anybody. All I can assure you is we are absolutely killing ourselves. You have to remember that this our first term in as a management. When we hit that bad patch in the championship, we were hearing different stupid stuff. That’s not going to help anybody. We’re going to work for Waterford and I mean that. We’re going to work so hard.”
‘CONSISTENCY IS VERY IMPORTANT’
Fitzgerald admitted that they underperformed against Cork and Clare. “I think we need to learn and I think we have learned. Consistency over the last five or six years has been a big thing with Waterford. I think you can see that yourself with certain displays. I think we might have a better understanding of why that is and hopefully address that in the off season. Consistency is very important. The first time I got to experience it was in the middle of the championship last year. We played two bad halves. You can dress it up whatever way you want, that is fact. We played pretty decent against Limerick, should have got a result. Second half against Cork, I thought we were ok. First half, we were way off. In the second half against Clare, we were way off. Against Tipperary, that fight, that scrapping, even though we were missing a lot, that’s the kind of consistency we want to get into this team.”
He can’t wait to get stuck into the new campaign. “I’ll be honest, I’m really excited about the year ahead. I’m really excited about going to Walsh Park and having the people come out. Whether we win or lose, just know that we’re going to give everything. I’ve said this from day one: if after two or three years, I can’t make it happen, someone else will give it a go. Let’s try and be as positive as you can. I think that will give you a better chance of success.”
‘PLAYING IN WALSH PARK IS MASSIVE TO US’
The prospect of entertaining Cork and Tipperary at the redeveloped Walsh Park in next year’s provincial championship energises him. “We had no home games last year. Playing in Walsh Park is massive to us, absolutely massive. You know what, the clubs of Waterford and especially the county board should be so proud of what they’ve done. All I heard for a long time was knocking the county board for this, that and the other thing. I know Sean Michael O’Regan and how hard he works. He’s a really good person. Pat Flynn and all the lads work really hard and they deserve support. We have a savage stadium now. The bit of width makes an awful difference. That’s our home. We’re going to absolutely try our best to be as good as we can and win our games in Walsh Park next year and have the people there with us.”
‘WHAT A TALENT’
Fitzgerald must plan without Austin Gleeson for 2024. The 2016 Hurler of the Year told the Irish Examiner that he needs a break from inter county hurling. “He’ll be a massive loss. Myself and Austin had this chat before he talked to anyone in the newspapers. We have that type of relationship where we can have a chat. Myself, Donncha O’Callaghan, Eoin Kelly Peter Queally, we pushed him really hard last year to stay involved. I suppose he was only crying out for a break when we look back at it. That’s what he wanted. You know what, he has a lot of service given to Waterford. If that’s what he wants to do, then a hundred per cent I back him. I have unbelievable time for him. They can what they like about Austin Gleeson, he’s a good person to deal with and what a talent.”
While Gleeson departs, Kieran Bennett and Ian Kenny will return to the panel. “Ian went travelling last year and Kieran was away. Hopefully the two of them will be with us, when the club allows with Ian and Kieran will be back before the year is out. He is doing a bit of work already out in Australia to get ready.”
DE BURCA ON THE WAY BACK
He is hopeful of seeing Tadhg de Burca back in a Waterford shirt next season. The two-time All Star suffered an achilles injury during the Munster championship loss to Limerick back in April. “From what I understand, from (physio) Michael O’Sullivan, he’s making good progress. Tadhg has been very unlucky with injury but he’s a resilient guy and he’s a guy we’re looking forward to having back around with us. I know he’s working hard. Fair play to him is all I have to say. A lot of other people would have thrown in the towel but he didn’t. He’s going to give it a crack and really looking forward to getting him back. We’ll take his recovery slowly, we won’t push him until we know he’s ready to go.”
0
