Injured Connors still stresses positives for Déise

Noel Connors is all but resigned to missing all of Waterford’s Division 1 league campaign with a back problem.

The 2010 All Star corner-back mayrequire minor surgery on the bulged disc which is pressing on his sciatic nerve. However, it’s more likely the Passage man will have to rest up for the next six weeks before getting himself right for June’s Munster SHC semi-final against Clare.

“The main objective is to get right for championship,” said Connors at Azzurri Sportswear’s helmet, football and sliotar launch yesterday. “There is no point in saying it’s not.

Connors is under instructions to take it easy over the next while. He can swim and cycle but weights are a no-no.

“I was told that the majority of the time it goes back itself with a small bit of rest. I’ve been resting for the last three weeks. As a result of that I do feel a lot better.

“The pain in the nerve was going from my backside to the back of my calf. It has been relieved a lot because there is not as much pressure on it.

“I was talking to a specialist and he said a few weeks it should be back to normal. The worst case scenario would be a small operation if it has to be. But I wouldn’t say it will go to that.”

At just 21, Connors puts down the injury to over-exerting himself but not necessarily because of hurling.

“Just doing so much,” he explained. “On the go the whole time with colleges, club and football with whatever other sport. It’s wear and tear and not getting much rest.

“My body was telling them to slow down to taper back a bit. I’m not the type of fella to sit down if we lost or were out of the championship. I’d go off and do something else.

“I’d play golf or football, something else so it is my own fault more than anything else.”

Connors has been a frustrated spectator these past few weeks, having seen Waterford fall to Cork and Kilkenny.

He’ll not deny Michael Ryan’s side have had it difficult in the opening stages of Division 1, but he prefers to dwell on the positives.

“It has (been tough) but you have to look at the positives. You can’t really look at the negatives too much, it’sgoing to bring everyone down.

“The positives are we had 11 injured against Cork and in the second-half we outscored them. Cork went on since and had a good win in Croke Park against Dublin).

“We had 10 injuries against Kilkenny last weekend and we were only a point away at the end of the first-half.”

Connors also takes heart from the likelihood of John Mullane returning to action later in the month.

“He’s a leader and it will be a great boost. It will take a lot of pressure off because fellas are starting to knock the team now.”

Another veteran Eoin Kelly could soon return to the panel and Connors would be delighted to see him back in Déise colours.

“He owes Waterford nothing. He’s been a great man through thick and thin and please God he’ll be back in the next few weeks and hopefully we’ll see him feature in the latter stages.”

Meanwhile, Donegal football captain Michael Murphy admits Donegal are realising the gap between Division 2 and Division 1 after their third defeat last weekend.

The reigning Ulster champions are joint bottom of the league with Laois after losing to Kerry by 11 points on Sunday.

“I suppose you could argue that in Division 1 any mistakes are reallymagnified and focused on and any of the defeats we’ve had have proved that. The performances haven’t been up to scratch.

“Results are obviously going to be magnified and the one at the weekend is going to be magnified in media circles and everywhere else but we’re just going to keep the head down and keep working towards championship.

“That’s the be all and end all for us and that’s where we’ll judge ourselves.”