Waterford's Ballygunner stars aiming to upset their coach

Seven Ballygunner men whom David Franks has prepared for battle, that he now counters in his inter-county brief as Wexford coach.

FAMILIAR FACE: Waterford's Dessie Hutchinson celebrates. Pic: Bryan Keane, Inpho

It will be a familiar whitewash that David Franks, inset, treads on Sunday. In Walsh Park, he has won six of his seven Waterford senior hurling titles as Ballygunner coach.

Among his opponents, there will be familiar faces too.

Seven Ballygunner men whom he has prepared for battle, that he now counters in his inter-county brief as Wexford coach.

“I spoke to the lads the other day and it will be a bit different with David on the sideline against them,” smiles Ballygunner manager Darragh O’Sullivan.

“But, listen, they had a bit of a laugh and a joke about it.

“David’s with Wexford and he really hasn’t been back with us yet. We’re only organising things. I was talking to him last week and we must have talked about this game 30 seconds in all.”

It’s seven years ago that former Offaly defender Franks joined Fergal Hartley’s Ballygunner set-up, fresh from guiding Carrickshock as player-manager to an All-Ireland intermediate title.

When Hartley stepped down after the 2018-19 season, O’Sullivan simply had to keep Franks.

“Martin Fogarty had been in with Fergal, but then he got the national hurling development manager’s position and I think Martin might have suggested David to Fergal,” he said.

“David’s been a massive part of us since. We’re delighted he’s staying on board for this season.”

O’Sullivan was keen to emphasise Franks would be continuing with Ballygunner not too long after it emerged he would be assisting Keith Rossiter in Wexford seniors — having done so at U20 level.

For the seven Ballygunner men in with Davy Fitzgerald — Patrick Fitzgerald, Peter Hogan, Dessie Hutchinson, Ian Kenny, Paddy Leavey, Kevin Mahony, and Conor Sheahan — all but Hogan and Kenny have only been coached at senior club level by Franks.

Nevertheless, O’Sullivan has no doubt all parties will be able to divest their allegiances on Sunday.

“When the lads are with Waterford, they’re with Waterford, and David would be the same with Wexford.

“I’d never quiz the lads on what they’re doing when they’re in with Waterford, and David would be the same.

“You’d leave them to their own devices. You try and be as positive as you can, but you’d never discuss what was going on in the camp. The split season has helped that.”

At the same time, O’Sullivan knows just how much is riding on this weekend’s game — when a place in the seven-team Division 1A could be at stake.

Wexford are without a win, but are currently in third spot having claimed three points from three games — one point ahead of Cork and Waterford, who beat Offaly but lost narrowly to Clare and Cork.

“It’s important for both to stay in Division 1 next year,” O’Sullivan says. “If that doesn’t happen, it makes things more difficult when you don’t have the quality of games you’d like to have going into championship. This game is huge.”

As is the proportion of Ballygunner’s 10 Waterford championships in a row winning contingent in the county set-up, as much as some commentary suggested the club were shunning the Déise.

“It was lazy analysis by certain people to say our players weren’t committing to Waterford,” O’Sullivan claims.

“Some of our more experienced players had decided to step away from Waterford, and after giving 10 years or more in some instances.

“So, for people to turn around and say that Ballygunner weren’t supporting Waterford was absolutely rubbish, to be honest.

“It made no sense and the people who said it should have done more research, especially in national media. It was disrespectful to the club.”