Paul Shankey: Waterford footballers won't go the way of Kilkenny

Manager Paul Shankey has no fear that Waterford football could go the way of Kilkenny by dropping out of the league and provincial championship.

For the second time in three years, the Déise finished winless and bottom of Division 4 but Shankey, a former Meath footballer, says the club game in the county is "very healthy".

"No, I wouldn't fear that at all," he replies when asked about the Kilkenny comparison. "I don’t know where that came from.

"If Rathgormack or The Nire were playing Castlehaven or Nemo, there’d be very little in it. Club football in the county is very healthy so I wouldn’t see that as a major issue at all.

"I suppose the big elephant in the room is the finances, the money being spent on teams, and that is one of the biggest issues for the GAA generally to address going forward."

Shankey adds that the footballers are getting a fair slice of the pie when compared to Davy Fitzgerald’s hurlers. They have "fantastic" training facilities, the same gym access, and received a "great response" when they reached out to clubs for players.

It’s at the younger grades where Shankey believes there is a difference: "We probably have to go down to 14-15-year-olds that they feel they want be part of a Waterford football development squad. That’s the area we need to attract players."

He insists the talent is there but the difference between their current standing and a leap up the rankings is a couple of top-class forwards.

"If we had the two Cliffords, we’d be operating higher up the divisions. Ultimately, it’s the finishers – it’s very hard to find them or nurture them. They don’t come along too often.

"If lads want to play hurling, that’s fair enough, that’s good for the county, but we are just trying to create an environment