Waterford players have let their manager down - Tyrrell

Waterford hurlers have let their management team down – just like they let a host of managers down in previous years, according to RTÉ hurling analyst, Jackie Tyrrell.

Waterford went out of the 2023 Munster Senior Hurling Championship with a whimper on Saturday evening at Stemple Stadium as they were overran by a Clare side shorn of one of its most potent weapons, forward Aidan McCarthy.

Manager Davy Fitzgerald, in his second stint in the Déise hotseat, is sure to come under pressure after his side's calamitous summer. But former Kilkenny ace Tyrrell insists that the men on the pitch should carry the can for years of inconsistency which has seem them "down tools" on successive managers.

"It’s the easy narrative to blame Davy and they will come in for criticism," Tyrrell said on the Saturday Game. "This Waterford team have let this management team down badly. They let Liam Cahill down badly. You think of last year, they downed tools against Clare last year down in Ennis – not good enough.

"Against Cork a couple of weeks ago, they downed tools, they gave up again. It’s a strong statement, but questions need to be asked of the leadership of that group. No consistency over the last number. It can’t be Davy Fitz’s fault, it can’t be Liam Cahill’s fault, it can’t be Derek McGrath’s fault and it can’t be Pádraig Fanning’s fault. Those players need to answer questions.

Tyrrell’s fellow analyst, former Tipperary keeper Brendan Cummins, was largely in agreement. Cummins feels there is a lack of leadership within the group and their frustrations will only continue until that is addressed.

"If you’re a Waterford player, tonight you’re saying 'what am I doing here?’," said Cummins. "There’s a complete lack of leadership within the group.