O'Connor belives Fitzgibbon Cup an 'excellent test run' for players who have senior ambitions

“It is about exposing them to a good level and preparing them for senior. Fitzgibbon should nearly be like a development squad for senior hurlers in Waterford."

Wed, 14 Feb, 2024 - 07:42

Eoghan Cormican

SETU Waterford are back in a Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final for the second February running. Theirs is a largely homegrown team. The homegrown performances offer optimism against a backdrop of barren underage season after barren underage season in the county.

Nobody in Waterford will thank us for dredging up the county’s dreadful minor and U20 record of recent years. It does not make for pleasant reading.

Since 2017, the county has played 34 championship games across the two age groups. They’ve won just five.

Since winning the All-Ireland U21 hurling title in 2016, Waterford have played 12 provincial championship games at this age grade, which was lowered to U20 in 2019. They won just one of those 12 games - that against Kerry in 2022.

In other words, Waterford haven’t overcome a top-tier county at U20/21 in eight years.

Minor matters aren't a whole pile healthier. The provincial round-robin was introduced in 2018. In its three iterations - 2018, 2019, and 2023 - the Déise have twice finished winless and bottom of the Munster table.

But as much as the county's inability to make an impact at either age grade is a cause for concern, the bottom line is that these are developmental years, and ultimately more important is that players filter up the line to senior level. And on this front, Waterford aren’t doing half as bad.

From across the 2021, ‘22, and '23 U20 classes, the likes of Carthach Daly, Mark Fitzgerald, Paddy Leavey, PJ Fanning, Mikey Kiely, Kevin Mahony, Reuben Halloran, Josh Fitzgerald, Sean Walsh, Patrick Fitzgerald, and Padraig Fitzgerald have moved up to the top level.

Ten of the SETU Waterford team that began their Fitzgibbon quarter-final win last Wednesday have a Déise Eircode. Among those 10 are Reuben Halloran, Josh, Patrick, and Padraig Fitzgerald from the list above.

Also in last week’s SETU Waterford line-up was Conor Ryan, who clipped two points from corner-back against Clare on Sunday, and his Waterford U20 teammate from four years ago Gavin Fives.

Fintan O’Connor is the SETU Waterford manager. He’s also involved with the Blackwater Community School team that recently won the Munster Senior B schools title. Considering Waterford had only one representative at Harty level this academic year, Blackwater’s second-tier success was rather timely.

All that packed together, O’Connor has his ear to the ground when it comes to the underage scene in the county. His view is glass half full.

“Waterford might not be getting the results at minor and U20, but they are still very competitive in Munster. And I know from having some of them in here for Fitzgibbon that they are very good lads,” said O’Connor.

“It is about exposing them to a good level and preparing them for senior. Fitzgibbon should nearly be like a development squad for senior hurlers in Waterford. We do have a lot of local lads playing and if there was a bit of joined-up thinking on it, it'd nearly act as a development team for the county side.

“Fitzgibbon is an excellent test run for lads wanting to play at a higher standard. If you can survive Fitzgibbon, usually it is a good indication. You saw how well Mikey Kiely did for UL last year. Fitzgibbon is definitely a huge stepping stone.”

Kiely throve in University of Limerick colours last spring. O’Connor is hoping Waterford men can thrive in their local colours as the third-level competition wraps up this week. He’s at the very least hoping SETU Waterford can go one better than last year.

“Looking at the other side of the draw, a lot of people might say that is where the winner will come from because of the strength of the UL and UG panels. Ourselves and Mary I are here on merit and whoever wins will give a fierce account of themselves in the final.

“We felt a little bit unlucky last year in the semi-final. We will tear into Wednesday and hopefully go one better.”