Michael Ryan insists he left Waterford in a healthy state when he vacated the manager's role two years ago, and hasn't been surprised by their success this season.

While the Deise were storming to victory over Cork in last Sunday's Allianz Hurling League final at Thurles, Ryan was guiding his new Westmeath charges to a Leinster SHC opening round win over Carlow in Mullingar.

"I wasn't hugely surprised by it (Waterford's league triumph)," he said at yesterday's Leinster championship launch in Farmleigh.

"Waterford have a lot of very good young players. I think they'll be a match for anyone.

"There's tremendous potential in that team. When the Titanic left Belfast, it was in a good place and when I left Waterford hurling, it was in a good place as well.

"I'm not surprised. I love their enthusiasm, their zest for the game. I think they'll beat a lot of teams.

"You look at Clare two years ago. Waterford, I thin, are in the same position, they play the same type of good game. I don't think there's any really outstanding team out there at the moment, that may change.

"I think the championship is wide open. You could see Waterford and Clare in a Munster final, that wouldn't surprise me."

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