Déise’s students face tough dilemma

Waterford manager Derek McGrath said the biggest challenge his Fitzgibbon Cup final players face is a mental one as they tackle a hectic fixture list this month. 

The county panel trained last night ahead of their Division 1B trip to Offaly this Saturday but McGrath spared his five WIT players — Jake Dillon, Austin Gleeson, Pauric Mahony, Gavin O’Brien and Martin O’Neill — and UL’s Stephen Bennett who will go at it again in the replay decider next Wednesday.

That means they face the possibility of five games in 21 days this month. As well as the third level final, there are the Division 1B’s remaining three rounds as well as a likely quarter-final on March 29.

In February alone, between county and college, several of the sextet lined out on seven occasions. With such a young squad, McGrath admits the replay will impact on Waterford more than most counties but he has faith both the players involved and the rest of the camp can negotiate the difficulty.

“Coming into our environment and switching on is the biggest challenge for them because they’re moving from one group that has been driving towards a goal to another where the focus is huge. That’s on top of training and everything else. Outside of the whole burnout debate, the mental issue is the big thing here.

“It has hit us hard given the age profile of the team and having so many players involved in the Fitzgibbon. You just look for a bit of understanding from other players and I think there is a general one there that their team-mates are still fighting for the Fitzgibbon, which is a competition we value.

“It’s a catch 22 with the Fitzgibbon lads. Lose a match and you can blame fatigue. At the same time, if you win you could say they have a bit of momentum. Somewhere in between lies the truth. The lads all have good attitudes, they’re steady fellas and we are happy for them to be involved in the final.”

McGrath will weigh up all his considerations before he decides how many of them he will field in Tullamore.

“To try and keep them psychologically fresh will be very difficult. With Saturday in mind, Offaly have a huge advantage because they’re not relying on too many lads who are in the same situation. We’re relying on our lads to go hard at it Saturday as they will for their colleges the following Wednesday.

“We’re hamstrung in a way because if I was to be absolutely fair, I’d rest them this weekend but there’s expectation and you’ve to marry that with the trust you have in the panel.

“Last year I took the risk of leaving out of a couple of the WIT boys for our game against Galway. We got the result but invariably there would have been questions asked if we didn’t. You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”

The Fitzgibbon final between UL and Waterford IT, drawn last Saturday, will be replayed next Wednesday, March 11 in Páirc Uí Rinn with a 7.30pm throw-in.

Meanwhile, the Corn Uí Mhuirí final replay, will be held in Rathmore at 1.30pm on Sunday.

Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne of Dingle drew with Rochestown’s St Francis College on Saturday at the Dr Crokes grounds in Killarney.

This was the fifth year in a row that the final had even played either there or across the road in Fitzgerald Stadium, with Corca Dhuibhne involved each time.

While there had been calls for the replay to be held in Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday as a curtain-raiser to the Cork and Kerry Allianz FL Div 1 game, the Munster PPS have opted for Rathmore, with the game times overlapping.