McGeough relishes challenge of meeting Shelbourne in opener

WHEN Jimmy McGeough said he welcomed a match against Shelbourne — one of the best teams in the League — for Waterford’s opening contest in the Premier Division, he was being true to form.

The Derryman never shirked a tackle in his life.

McGeough may face a daunting campaign after running away with the first division last season. The ultra-slick and professional Shelbourne set the standard for them tonight at the Waterford RSC (7.30pm kick-off).

McGeough filled his pockets with winners' medals when he played with Waterford in the early 1970s. He was a swashbuckling midfielder then, putting beef into a Waterford team renowned for their skilful and entertaining football. He was slight of frame, but driven by a huge heart.

It was no surprise that he led Waterford to promotion because he was always a winner as a player. It was typical of the man that one of his best performances for Waterford was in the white-hot atmosphere of Istanbul when they played Galatasaray in the old European Cup, long before that notorious venue became familiar in this part of the world.

Now his task is to imbue his young charges with some of his own fire but he was being realistic when he said: "I'm looking forward to the new season but I'm a little apprehensive.

"I have a very enthusiastic bunch of players but I just wonder whether their inexperience will kick in and hinder them. But then again I recall the experience they gained last year for such a young team when they led the League from start to finish.

"Hopefully that feeling will be carried over from last season to this. I would like to get older heads into the team but they do not seem to be around just now."

Yes, but kicking off against Shelbourne?

"There is no better way to start than to go in against the best," he said, "they are supposedly the best but not in my view. I do not think anybody is the best other than Waterford."

He will go into battle largely with the squad who did so well last season. There have been one or two new signings and, he said, "Mark Clifford could possibly start right away in the team.

"The big selection I have to make is to select two from our back three Dave Mulcahy, David Breen and Willie Byrne they are three very good players."

So what type of players, I asked, did he need?

"If I could strengthen the team by picking the best player in the League from any other team I would be looking for a central midfield player, a player who would distribute the ball and bring the full-backs into the game, bring in the forwards and bring the wide players into it."

"Waterford have always developed teams who are attractive going forward and enjoy the creative side of it and I like to think we are no different now," said McGeough, "but we will probably be forced to be a little more conservative than we would like."

So who, among Waterford's promising bunch of youngsters will make headlines?

"Kevin Waters is a young player who is ready to fulfil his potential," he said, "he is a Damien Duff-type player who did not have the confidence of Damien Duff.

"However, I have seen him grow in confidence and, if he can continue to develop, then he could emerge as a very big player for us."