Déise determined to change minds

It’s hard to pinpoint when it became unfashionable to be a Waterford footballer, but it wasn’t today or yesterday.

This is not a county such as Kilkenny, where football is openly reviled. It isn’t akin to Offaly, where hurling is kept alive by a small pocket of clubs.

Waterford has a sizeable, thriving football community, particularly in the west. There is a very strong base of clubs from senior down to junior, with most of the senior outfits having two teams. Participation levels are considerable.