Waterford must ‘move on’ after Pauric Mahony injury, says Kevin Moran

Waterford captain Kevin Moran says it is imperative the Déise hurling camp do not allow Pauric Mahony’s season-ending injury take from the momentum of their league-winning campaign.

Moran described the broken tibia incurred by Mahony on Saturday evening as a “devastating and sickening blow” ahead of the county’s Munster championship opener against Cork on June 7. He also labelled the 22-year old league top scorer as irreplaceable.

“It is important [we don’t allow Pauric’s injury overshadow the good spirit in the camp from the league win], Pauric is the first person who would be saying that,” said Moran at yesterday’s Munster championship launch at Blackrock Castle.

“It could make us even better. It is hard to predict. If we beat Cork on June 7, people will say it made us more united than ever. If we lose, people will say Pauric’s loss we just couldn’t get over. We can’t let it get to us too much.”

Moran continued: “The timing is unfortunate. You can’t replace a guy like him. You can do your best to replace him. A lot of people say he is the person that makes the team tick. His work-rate is the most outstanding thing on the field that people wouldn’t see. His free-taking ability will be hugely missed. You can keep taking about all the different aspects of his game and what he brings. We just have to brush ourselves down and move on. We have three or four weeks to try and get things right for June 7. Hopefully someone will now step up in his place.”