Defeat would be 'disaster' for Waterford, says Brian Flannery

Former Waterford hurler Brian Flannery says it would be a “disaster” if the most talented Déise team of the past 20 years had their summer ended as early as the second weekend of July.

Waterford haven’t beaten Kilkenny in the championship since 1959 and Flannery agrees with the assertion that there won’t come an opportunity much better than Saturday’s second-round qualifier to bridge that 58-year gap.

Brian Cody’s current bunch, according to former defender Flannery, are not at the level of recent years and he believes this is Waterford’s chance to send out a statement as to their All-Ireland credentials.