Deise veterans welcome Davy's extended rest

Waterford veteran Dan Shanahan has welcomed the extra rest given by hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald for the older members of the squad for the up and coming season.

Shanahan, who is entering his twelfth year at inter-county level, believes that the extra time for recuperation will be key in the later stages of this year’s campaign.

The 2007 Player of the Year had a busy year last year with county and his home town club Lismore and only finished up in late November.

Meanwhile Eoin Kelly has turned the corner with his views on the new rule on wearing helmets.

His revised view comes as the new regulations on helmet and faceguard wearing were enforced this season.

The Deise free taker is usually recognised for playing without the use of a helmet and is slowly coming around to the idea of safety first.

The biggest concern for Kelly is that he hopes that this new compulsory rule will not affect the steady flowing game play.

The full forward also admitted that serious work will have to be done to get back up to match fitness following the Christmas lay-off.

Waterford's County Board Chairman Tom Cunningham said the new deal between the Deise county board for an undisclosed sum will go to the game's grass roots and is set to be a moneyspinner for the county if the hurlers can go one better than last year.