New Waterford hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald said he and his players we willing to play Saturday's All-Ireland qualifier against Antrim at a neutral venue. Underdogs Antrim, who are coming off the back of a crushing defeat to Galway, face a long journey to Walsh Park following last weekend's draw. Many believe it is unfair that Antrim weren't given home advantage against their illustrious opponents. However, Fitzgerald claimed that Waterford had offered to meet their opponents - whoever they were drawn against - at a halfway venue between the two counties. He said: "If we'd had to go to Antrim we'd have had to do it and nothing said about it, long trip that it is. The Waterford county board suggested before any draw was made - Galway or Antrim - that we play the other team halfway. We felt it made more sense to do that, no matter who we were playing. "We were turned down, but so be it. We have to live with the consequences, and the venue that we got." The former Clare goalkeeper insists that his team won't be taking the Saffrons for granted on Saturday. "I suppose the fact that Galway beat Antrim so well, you'd be afraid maybe things would creep into our lads' heads. "But the one thing I said to the lads was that after 25 minutes it was level, and then Antrim didn't compete after that. I'm sure they'll sort that out during the week and compete a lot better." Tweet

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