Waterford pack a punch from Dunne

WATERFORD hurlers have received a pre-championship boost from world champion boxer Bernard Dunne.

Dubliner Dunne visited the Déise training camp last weekend and gave a motivational talk at the invitation of Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald, a personal friend of the boxer.

Waterford face Limerick in their Munster SHC opener next Sunday in Thurles, and Dunne’s surprise visit and lengthy talk was one of the last elements in their preparations for that game.

It wasn’t Dunne’s only GAA-related appointment last weekend – he donned a Dublin jersey and headed to Croke Park cheer on his beloved Sky Blues in their win over Meath in the Leinster SFC and the county’s hurlers as they put Antrim to the sword in the hurling championship.

Waterford supporters will be hoping Dunne’s resilience rubs off on their team as they get back on the championship carousel following their heavy defeat to Kilkenny in last year’s All-Ireland final.

Back in March, Dunne beat WBA superbantamweight world champion Ricardo Cordoba in the O2 Arena, proving he had overcame his shock first-round loss to Kiko Martinez in 2007.