Waterford selector Cashin resigns

Nicky Cashin's short spell as a selector with the Waterford senior hurling squad is over, leaving manager Michael Ryan under increasing pressure.

It is understood that Cashin cited a number of reasons for resigning, and among them are some issues he allegedly has with the Waterford County Board.

The Abbeyside clubman, a former All-Ireland minor-winning manager with Kilkenny, came on board as part of Ryan's new management team last October, along with Pat Flanagan and Br. Philip Ryan.

He had been a selector during Justin McCarthy's reign when Waterford were two-time Munster winners (2004 and 2007) and also Allianz Hurling League champions (2007).

Cashin's decision to quit comes at a bad time for Ryan whose Déise side have lost their first three games in this year's league and face a 'must win' trip to Galway this weekend.

After leaking 31 points to Tipperary last Sunday, Ryan said: "We have to start performing and performing fast. I'm not that bothered about results but what I am bothered about is the level of performance.

"It's simply not good enough at the moment. We'll have to look at our fitness, game-plan, attitude and focus. We're just not up to the pace of the game.

"We don't look sharp, we don't look fit and we don't look mentally focused. There are other problems and everybody has to step up to the plate, players and management."

However, relegation-threatened Waterford have been boosted by the return to training this week of experienced forwards Eoin Kelly and John Mullane.

The pair trained with the county panel on Tuesday night, with Kelly earning a recall after he was dropped in January due to concerns over his fitness.