Austin Gleeson hopeful Walsh Park can help Waterford to finally deliver in Munster round robin

Work on the redevelopment of Waterford's Walsh Park is expected to start soon.

It has already been delayed, between building costs going up and Covid, but the hope is the long promised project can finally come to fruition.

The plans include a new roof on the existing main stand, as well as the construction of a new uncovered stand across from it, to increase the capacity to around 12,000 in time for the championship in mid-April.

It forms part of a general positive mood in the city, according to hurling star Austin Gleeson, to go with other much long heralded investment - the North Quays, the new South Eastern Technological University, the extension of the greenway, and the potential re-opening of the railway to Rosslare.

"The North Quays has got the go ahead, so hopefully that's starting soon," he begins as he helps to launch Eir's sponsorship of the All-Ireland hurling championship.

"The technology (WIT) turning into a university is huge. The airport is getting an extension to the runway, which is going to be massive.

"Once Walsh Park is developed it will help a lot. It won't be a massive ground compared to some counties but it'll be our own little ground, and we'll just have to turn it into a cauldron, as much as we possibly can.

"The work is starting soon enough so I'm just looking forward to seeing the end product. It's long enough in that process and it's probably too long in the process to be complete.

"In future years you could extend the stand (further) but at the end of the day it's just about getting that first phase over and done with. Once that's done you can think about the next plans."

Why is the ground significant? Well, the Déise's record in the Munster round robin has been poor since it's inception in 2018. That