Ryan calls for unity in new Déise challenge

IT TOOK Waterford County Board delegates just five minutes last night to confirm Fourmilewater’s Michael Ryan as the new senior hurling manager.

Ryan becomes the first homegrown manager of the county senior hurling team since Tony Mansfield in 1995, and follows in the footsteps of Gerald McCarthy, Justin McCarthy, and Davy Fitzgerald, who has taken over at his native Clare after three years with the Déise.

Ryan served as a selector in 2006 and 2007 when Justin McCarthy was in charge, with Waterford winning both National League and Munster championship honours in the latter year before McCarthy’s controversial exit. He then stood down in advance of the appointment of Fitzgerald.

Last year Ryan managed De La Salle to county and provincial senior hurling championship honours and saw his charges lose out to eventual All- Ireland club champions Clarinbridge by a solitary point in an epic semi-final.

Ryan, appointed for two years, addressed the specially convened board meeting and told the delegates that he is making no rash predictions about the year ahead.

“What I can pledge is that I, along with the other members of my management team, will leave no stone unturned to take this Waterford team onto the next level,” said Ryan. “This is not my team, it is the whole county’s team and I want us to push forward now as a unified and united force.”

Ryan, who was recommended by a special sub-committee, was one of just four people interviewed for the job. However county chairman Tom Cunningham confirmed that a total of 12 people had originally been contacted about the job.

Joining Ryan on the management ticket as his assistant are Abbeyside’s Nicky Cashin, a teacher in St Kieran’s College in Kilkenny. Cashin is a former county senior hurler, and has been manager of a Kilkenny All-Ireland winning minor team.

Mount Sion’s Brother Philip Ryan will be in charge of coaching matters, while Kerry-based Pat Flanagan will be the team’s physical trainer.

The new manager told last night’s meeting that he was “deeply honoured” to have been given the job, revealing that for him the story began 33 years ago when he attended a coaching course in St Augustines College in Dungarvan.

He went on to enjoy success as manager of the Waterford ladies senior football team which won several All-Ireland titles.

He made specific reference to his time in charge of De La Salle last year as he guided them to the county and provincial titles. “I want to categorically scotch reports that I had trouble with some of the De La Salle players. Nothing could be further from the truth and I want to knock that one firmly on the head,” he said.

“Let us all now pull together so that we can ace the huge challenges that next year will bring. We on the management side are absolutely determined to give it our very best shot.”

Waterford County Board chairman, Tom Cunningham, appealed for countywide support for Ryan and his management team: “Only if that support is forthcoming have we a realistic chance of fulfilling the dream of every Waterford person — winning that elusive All-Ireland title.”