\n Davy’s back in Wexford and Tipp are on top.\n<\/p>\n
THREE TIMES IN six weeks earlier this summer, Derek McGrath and Davy Fitzgerald faced off on the sideline in Thurles.<\/p>\n
The results helped shape their campaigns with the league success proving the high-water mark of Clare\u2019s season under Fitzgerald, while the Munster semi-final triumph helped McGrath\u2019s Waterford rebound and travel on a championship journey deep into August.<\/p>\n
They got well-acquainted and even Davy\u2019s departure from Clare has not pushed him out of the inter-county limelight for too long.<\/p>\n
16 days after his Clare exit, Davy\u2019s arrival in Wexford was confirmed. \u2018It\u2019s a match made in heaven\u2019, is McGrath\u2019s opinion.<\/p>\n
\n Waterford hurling boss Derek McGrath<\/p>\n
Source: Cathal Noonan\/INPHO<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m glad Davy is back involved because I think he absolutely loves hurling, he\u2019s obsessed with it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI actually was watching something on Monday night there, just watching back a bit of analysis of Wexford Cork, when Cork beat Wexford well last year in the championship down in Wexford Park.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the Sunday Game that night, Donal \u00d3g was there and Donal \u00d3g pointed to how well structured the Wexford team was under Liam Dunne and they were beginning to do the right things.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me I think it\u2019s a match made in heaven. It\u2019s a perfect match, Davy and Wexford.<\/p>\n
\u201cWexford, I think have a lot of good players. In terms of a management and in terms of a pressure free zone, I think it\u2019s an ideal scenario for Davy in that you\u2019re in (Division) 1B and there\u2019s not the same stigmatised approach in terms of relegation and promotion that there is in (Division) 1A from your respective supporters.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the Wexford people will welcome Davy down to continue the excellent work that I thought Liam Dunne has done already.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n Liam Dunne and Derek McGrath after this year’s All-Ireland quarter-final<\/p>\n
Source: Donall Farmer\/INPHO<\/p>\n
If Fitzgerald\u2019s installation in the south-east is the most eye-catching appointment in the close season, the front-runners at the outset for 2017 will be the current champions Tipperary.<\/p>\n
McGrath feels that the playing resources at their disposal indicate the current strength of Tipperary hurling.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot to be hypocritical, I expected Kilkenny to win (the final) because I just expected they\u2019d find a way to win.<\/p>\n
\u201c(It was) not based on absolute logic, it was more a gut feeling. I just thought they\u2019d find a way to win.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooking back on it, you\u2019d have to say now Tipperary were so primed for the final with their attacking threat. The sextet up front in terms of what they can do, their inter-changing and the space they created on the day.<\/p>\n
\n Get closer to the stories that matter with exclusive analysis, insight and debate in The42 Membership.\n <\/p>\n
Become a Member<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cThese fellas are solid, they\u2019ve always been solid fellas. The advantage that Tipperary have I suppose is Tipperary\u2019s minors won the All-Ireland impressively, if that was a situation in Waterford we would probably fast forward those guys straight away.<\/p>\n
\n The Tipperary minor players celebrate at the end of their All-Ireland minor final win<\/p>\n
Source: James Crombie\/INPHO<\/p>\n
\u201cTipperary for me are at the stage where those fellas can serve an apprenticeship similar to Kilkenny where over the years, you don\u2019t have to rush them in.<\/p>\n
\u201cA few years ago we took a decision that was the best policy going forward to get guys in.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I think Tipperary are in a really strong position. Even ourselves we were playing Thurles in the Harty last week with De La Salle and Thurles wiped us. There\u2019s lots and lots of hurlers in Tipperary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Closer to home, McGrath was able to celebrate an underage success as well. The core of the Waterford U21 team that blitzed Galway to achieve All-Ireland glory are part of the senior squad.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were delighted as a management ourselves, 12 of them were involved with us over the last few years. It\u2019s great that there was something tangible in terms of a cup at the end of the year.<\/p>\n
\n Waterford players celebrate their All-Ireland U21 final victory<\/p>\n
Source: Donall Farmer\/INPHO<\/p>\n
\u201cWith encouragement comes a kind of a forewarning though. If you met a guy on the street, \u2018he\u2019d say you\u2019d have a job picking that team next year with the U21\u2032s\u2019, whereas the reality is the U21\u2032s are in with us already.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe major core of that U21 team have been exposed to senior level. Put TJ Ryan\u2019s situation (in Limerick) last year, promoting guys from U21, some of them had actually never played senior. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cOur lads have already played at senior level, so it\u2019s a different dynamic, albeit there\u2019s one or two you\u2019d hope to pick from going into the future.\u201d <\/p>\n
*****************<\/p>\n
Derek McGrath has been named as the Gaelic Writers Association 2016 Hurling Personality of the Year. The GWA awards ceremony takes place in Dublin\u2019s Jackson Court Hotel tonight.<\/em><\/p>\n The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!<\/p>\n