Davy Fitzgerald once again enters pre season giving the more experienced members of his panel a training programme to work through while allowing youth to flourish in the Waterford Crystal and the early stages of the league.
Eoin Murphy, Michael Walsh, Eoin Kelly, Declan Prendergast, Ken McGrath and Tony Browne may not see action until the tail end of the league campaign. With De La Salle engaged with the club championships, John Mullane and Kevin Moran are also ruled out at this moment in time. This presents Davy the opportunity to trial those on the fringes and also those coming up from the underage panels of recent times. Another find like Noel Connors two years ago to add to the mix would make it a profitable exercise.
Training resumed on January 2 at the Carraiganore complex and a week later two trial games were held against Carlow and Waterford IT with the added bonus of two comfortable victories. A total of 31 players were put through their paces. 17 of those didn’t even feature in the 2010 championship panel including three of last year’s minor team (Darragh Fives, Eamonn Murphy and Pauric Mahony). Richie Foley was also trialled at centre forward. It is the new year after all, a time when GAA managers like to cast the net far and wide in search of worthwhile experiments ahead of the summer.
Aside from those new to the panel there are a number of players who have been knocking about the panel for a number of years without making a decisive breakthrough to the first 15. In defence Jerome Maher looks an exciting prospect while Jamie Nagle will look to re-establish himself. Up front Maurice Shanahan, Shane Casey and Tomás Ryan need to step up to the plate and challenge strongly for championship places after a couple of years on the fringes. A prosperous pre season would do no harm whatsoever.
With changes occurring on the field there is also subtle adjustments on the sidelines with the addition of Brother Philip Ryan to the backroom team. He brings an impressive CV from his time as Laois trainer and his task will be to shore up the Waterford defence along with selector Pat Bennett.
Sunday’s opponents Cork IT made the last four of the Fitzgibbon Cup in 2009 but were eliminated at the group stages of the competition last year. They are currently under the command of Pat Mulcahy, double All Ireland winner with Cork in 2004 and 2005. They won a scrappy opening round clash against Kerry by 1-7 to 0-6 last weekend at Austin Stack Park in dire conditions but will seek a higher level of performance for this clash. Their Fitzgibbon Cup draw sees them paired with reigning champions NUIG and also DIT, a group which presents a realistic chance of progress to the quarter finals. The Waterford Crystal provides the ideal preparation for the heat of Fitzgibbon and especially for their opening trip to Galway. Ryan Clifford of Newtownshandrum leads their attack with assistance from fellow Rebels like Michael Bowles and Tony Murphy. In defence Stephen Daniels at wing back will look to impress against his native county.
A year ago the students were hammered by 15 points by the same opposition and with the up and coming Deise players looking to make an impression they may have to settle for second best again this time around. For the newcomers another outing in this competition will give them further valuable opportunities before the league gets underway. With panel sizes reduced to 26 for 2011, the race for championship spots begins on a Sunday afternoon in late January.
Waterford Crystal Quarter Final
Waterford v Cork IT 23/01/11
Throw in 2.00 at Walsh Park
Referee: Tommy Ryan (Tipperary)
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