Tom McGlinchey looks to rekindle Waterford football team

It’s rare you’ll find a Waterford football team wear the tag of ‘reigning champions’, and while manager Tom McGlinchey is relishing the opportunity to successfully defend their McGrath Cup crown, his hand isn’t quite what he was dealt 12 months ago.

Victories over UL, Cork IT, Cork and UCC delivered the county a first McGrath Cup in 34 years last January, but Waterford’s season was subsequently derailed by the withdrawal of over a dozen players from the squad.

“Since the McGrath Cup and National League, 14 players are unavailable through injury, withdrawal, family commitments and trips to America,” wrote McGlinchey in a letter that was read out by chairman Paddy Joe Ryan at a county board meeting five days before their sink-or-swim qualifier against Offaly in mid-June.