Noel Connors: Waterford players standing firm with Derek McGrath

Noel Connors accepts Waterford may have been playing for Derek McGrath’s future as manager in their second round qualifier against Kilkenny last Saturday week.

Little has changed on that count as they face into Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter-final against Wexford and Connors, who was vocal in his defence of his manager following the game, agrees it might have been a subconscious motivation for the players to do their bit in keeping McGrath at the helm by defeating the Cats.

“Yeah, perhaps we were. Not that we would let that affect us but maybe it was something that psychologically we had in the back of our minds. The Waterford public always want to see you in finals and semi-finals but unfortunately, it is a very, very competitive championship.