Stephen Bennett appeals for patience from expectant Déise faithful

Waterford’s Stephen Bennett has appealed for patience from the county’s success-starved supporters — insisting there’s no guarantee of senior glory on the back of U21 heroics.

Bennett was the Bord Gáis Energy U21 hurler of the year in 2016, as the Déise stormed to Munster and All-Ireland wins with a team regarded as one of the finest in the history of the competition.

The expectation now is a youthful senior crop will push on and achieve big things in the coming years at senior level. But Bennett said: “How many teams win U21s? Just because Waterford win one doesn’t mean they’re automatically going to win senior.