Dejected Déise boss refuses to speculate on future plans

Waterford manager John Owens wouldn’t be drawn on his future at the helm of the Déise footballers.

The former Fermanagh player cut a forlorn and dejected figure as he slipped out of a quiet dressing room in Aughrim after his brave young side had fell to a five-point loss after extra-time.

The defeat was hurting him hard; there was no hiding it.

He emerged head bowed, weary, having spoke in low tones to his footballers for more than 15 minutes and having garnered five rounds of applause. But his eyes gave away how bitterly he was feeling this cruel defeat.

“I don’t know, I really haven’t thought about it,” said Owens when asked where the result left him in terms of his position.

“I think whoever it is leading those boys next year will get 100% commitment and they will be pushed every day by those players because they’ll make sure that the set up is right.”

The question of players’ expenses was also put to the Waterford manager and he had a straightforward message for the GAA fans of the county.

“Each player in that dressingroom wants to wear the Waterford jersey, they want to support the man beside them with dignity and it’s very important that the people at home recognise that,” he said.

“That dressingroom is full of talented players and that game today will stand to the players. They have a great attitude and great pride even though it mightn’t seem like that from the outside,” said Owens.

The manager also paid tribute to the small band of supporters who made the journey to Aughrim.

“I have to compliment the supporters, there was only a few and we know them by name. Today will drive on this team,” he added before aiming some stiff criticism at the Kerry referee Padraig O’Sullivan.

“I’m very disappointed in the referee and I don’t normally go back on refs but we had a man sent off and he didn’t deserve it. Some of his decisions were also difficult to take.”