Davy Fitzgerald wants Waterford following to drive the side on at Walsh Park

Davy Fitzgerald hopes a winning start to the Munster Championship will draw supporters back behind his Waterford team.

Fitzgerald's Déise return stalled last year due to a string of defeats and attendances were further dented by their concession of home advantage due to the Walsh Park redevelopment works.

There has yet to be a happy homecoming as crowds remained below 4,000 during their three league defeats this spring and a large Cork contingent is expected at the Keane's Road venue on Sunday.

"I totally understand the frustration but we need the support," said Fitzgerald. "Let us be judged on the Munster Championship and see how we go.

"Last year’s Munster Championship, it was my first year in and you could see the turnouts, they were disappointing. That’s before we pucked a ball.

"It has been like this since early last year. I’m just hoping the way we get them back in is to see that tenacity… You could see it in the league. Even though we were short a lot of players, they played hard. And we’ve a few things we’ve been working hard on.

"If we get a win or two at all, you’ll see a change. But we have to work hard and do our side of things. All we can do is encourage them to come out and be with us. It’s all on 21 April onwards. I’d love if we had 8 to 10,000 at Walsh Park, driving us on."

Fitzgerald, who was speaking for the Munster Championship launch from Portugal on Waterford’s warm-weather training camp, has also had to counter the rumour mill. He believes a win against their Rebel rivals is the best rebuttal.

"I got a text the other day, 'I heard you’re fighting with this lad and that lad’. What can you do, only laugh at it. I can’t do anything else. If people around Waterford want to make up rumours, that’s fine. I’ve