Veteran McGrath ‘mad’ for action with Déise, says Davy

KEN McGRATH is ‘mad’ to play for Waterford this year, according to manager Davy Fitzgerald, despite the player’s ongoing fitness problems.

The Mount Sion veteran has been plagued by injury and missed most of the 2009 season with knee complaints. However, Fitzgerald and his selectors met McGrath for 45 minutes last week and were heartened by his desire.

“Don’t have any doubt in your mind, Ken McGrath is mad to play for Waterford and you could tell that by him last week. He is worried about the knees, naturally enough, but you have to stay positive. There is no point worrying until we know exactly what the story is and we will know that come March.”

McGrath is one of half a dozen Waterford players who have been given a leave of absence for the early rounds of the league. Tony Browne, Dan Shanahan, John Mullane are others who have been excused duties for the initial outings.

Regardless of whether McGrath returns to the fold or not, the Clare man is happy that everything that can be done is being done to get the three-time All Star back on the playing field in 2010.

Limerick-based physiotherapist Ger Hartmann and renowned surgeon Tadhg O’Sullivan have both been consulted and McGrath is following the same programme as the likes of Browne and Shanahan, one which Fitzgerald is confident will pay rich dividends.

“I thought a few of them have a lot of miles on the clock. If you look at Tony Browne over the last couple of years, he didn’t come back probably until March and you can’t say anything about his performance in the championship.

“So, most of the lads over 30 and maybe John Mullane (need the break). I felt he had a very long year with De La Salle. He had a good hurling year but I would prefer a lad with real appetite and it is very hard to hold it for six or eight months so we just decided to give him a break for the two months and bring him back then.”

Fitzgerald rejected the notion that the policy was tantamount to sacrificing any prospect of a league title and pointed out that, while Waterford played just under 30 games last season, no player played less than seven times.

Such exposure to the highest level will be crucial again this year with the perception one of a Waterford team that is over the hill. People told Fitzgerald as much during the off-season but the manager himself begs to differ.

De La Salle College won Harty Cups in 2007 and 2008, the county minors claimed Munster honours last year and the U21s fell just short in the provincial final, against eventual All-Ireland champions Clare. Last year’s minor captain, Martin O’Neill, has already been drafted into the senior squad, as have a handful of the U21s. It is, Fitzgerald admits, a risky juggling act, but the hope is that it will stimulate competitiveness in the squad.

“I always said I thought there was talent in Waterford and you could see that last year. Their attitude to training is great. They are applying themselves really well – some of them. I’m happy with the young guys. It might take them a bit of time to find their feet.”