BUOYED by his club’s defeat of Na Piarsaigh in the Munster Club semi-final, Ballygunner’s Dessie Hutchinson believes that Waterford will be serious challengers for next year’s All-Ireland title.
Speaking at the launch of the AIB Club Championships, the Dunmore East man said: “I still think Waterford are All-Ireland contenders. I don’t think we turned into a bad team overnight or anything like that.
“I still think we’ll be All-Ireland contenders. That’s the main aim in Waterford – to win the All-Ireland.”
Waterford, who are home to Limerick in the opening round of next season’s Munster Championship, have a new manager in the much-travelled Davy Fitzgerald.
“I don’t know him that well, but from other teams and what I’ve heard, he’ll set up everything in his power to help Waterford win an All-Ireland and I get the feeling myself from Davy and the rest of his management team that that is going to be the aim,” commented Hutchinson.
“He’s going to put everything in place for us to go as far as we can with him.”
Waterford last won the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 1959 following a replayed defeat of Kilkenny. It was only their second All-Ireland triumph.
Ballygunner’s next opponents are Ballyea of Clare in the Munster Final at Semple Stadium, Thurles on Saturday week.
