Fitzgibbon replay gives McGrath plenty to ponder

March 04, 2015

Waterford manager Derek McGrath. INPHO

Waterford manager Derek McGrath admits the Fitzgibbon Cup final replay, fixed for next Wednesday, is a headache he could have done without.

Five of McGrath's squad (Jake Dillon, Austin Gleeson, Pauric Mahony, Gavin O'Brien and Martin O'Neill) are involved with WIT while Stephen Bennett is a key player for UL.

The Deise manager and his selectors will have a few tough calls to make when it comes to deciding on their starting 15 for Saturday's league clash against Offaly.

"To try and keep them psychologically fresh will be very difficult," he admitted to The Examiner.

"With Saturday in mind, Offaly have a huge advantage because they're not relying on too many lads who are in the same situation.

"We're relying on our lads to go hard at it Saturday as they will for their colleges the following Wednesday.

"We're hamstrung in a way because if I was to be absolutely fair, I'd rest them this weekend but there's expectation and you've to marry that with the trust you have in the panel.

"Last year I took the risk of leaving out of a couple of the WIT boys for our game against Galway. We got the result but invariably there would have been questions asked if we didn't.

"You're damned if you do and damned if you don't."


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