Déise still battling the odds

LIAM O LÍONÁIN does a neat line in pragmatism. The Waterford footballers face a steep incline in their opening championship challenge this Sunday and the An Rinn attacker needs scant reminding of the populist view which has Cork as overwhelming favourites.

“Look the odds are definitely stacked against us. You see how well Cork have been doing in the league and they will be hopping off the ground. We’ll be looking to give it everything we’ve got and try to match them on the pitch. You’d be hoping to put in a competitive performance and I really think that is in us.”

Waterford had lofty promotion ambitions themselves at the outset of this year’s league, yet a fruitless trip across the channel to Ruislip was the moment their hopes came unstuck.