Waterford will put their All-Ireland MHC title on the line against Clare in Ennis tonight and manager Derek Lyons is relishing the challenge of defending their crown with a "particularly talented squad".

Lyons told the Examiner that he doesn't feel under any added pressure as a result of last year's long-awaited success.

"I would have said to anyone starting out this year that if Waterford never won a game last year, there would be enormous pressure on us as a management team to deliver something with this particular squad because they have been regarded as a particularly talented squad over the years.

"The incentive for us now is that it has been done now and they have won an All-Ireland. We have that added responsibility to try and deliver a second one.

"I'm enjoying the role of manager and I always have done. I don't feel any added pressure because they won one last year."

The Deise took the scenic route to All-Ireland glory last year but Lyons is hoping they will journey through the front door this time around.

"Clare is a game for us that we have to win because it frees up a couple of weeks for fellas to concentrate on exams. If we lose, we are in the backdoor and you are scrapping and fighting for your life then." Tweet

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