United we stand, divided we fall, says chairman

A SENIOR GAA official has warned that Waterford cannot deliver on the huge expectation in the county unless they achieve a united camp.

“United we stand, divided we fall’’, warned West Waterford Board chairman, Paddy Walsh, in his address to last night’s annual convention in Knockanore. It was an obvious reference to criticism of senior hurling manager Justin McCarthy by three of the longest serving members of the county panel. Walsh’s comments were clearly directed at Brian Greene, Peter Queally and Brian Flannery, after Greene declared he would not play for Waterford again with McCarthy at the helm.

“It was regrettable,” said Walsh, “that our year should end on that unfortunate note. We cannot achieve success without a totally united front, and Justin McCarthy and his management team are entitled to our undivided support.” The chairman said he was particularly disappointed they had failed to retain their Munster senior hurling crown: “That defeat to Cork in the provincial decider, and our loss to Wexford in the All-Ireland qualifiers, were massively disappointing,’’ he said. “All the more so given that we should have won both games.’’