Liam Cahill has widened his selection choices for 2021 with the introduction of five new players for the upcoming campaign.
Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart), DJ Foran (Portlaw), Seamus Keating (Ardmore), Michael Kiely (Abbeyside) and Thomas Douglas (De La Salle) have all been added ahead of the new season.
The Deise boss will be happy to have some fresh bodies challenging for starting jersey's, considering that he felt some players weren't fully up to the pitch he wanted leading in to last years All-Ireland final.
"Our extended panel seemed to be more focused than the fellas that had possession of the jersey. If I was to do my job right that day, there would have been seven or eight changes for the All Ireland final if I was to go on that training session alone."
"These five players are in on merit, they’re players that have performed well with their clubs throughout the club championship in the summer and there’s a few of them brought in from a development point of view as well – to give them the opportunity to see can they step up, maybe not necessarily this year or next year.
Obviously, you’ll always be looking for someone who can give you an impact straight away."
Having cut his teeth in management with the Tipperary U21's, his focus is not just on vying for silverware for Waterford, but also to try and create a production line of players who can come through the ranks and challenge for a starting spot on the senior team.
"I think that’s my role and that’s the brief I was given – to make sure that I’m keeping the conveyor belt of players coming through. I predominantly came from a development background like that with underage teams and my grá is always when I go look at players is to look for that type of player.
I think we have three of four of them identified now and in with us, and there’s quite a number more out there that we’re waiting to see what the directive from Croke Park will be before we make a decision to get them in around us."
"It’s a double-edged sword really. You’re looking for players than can give us real impetus straight away and obviously then you know, you have players that you’re going to try and develop and make sure they’re ready when you do put your hands on them in twelve months’ time or two years’ time whether its me or some other manager. That’s always the plan."
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0a0nJV3GkqItka7X1KNGMh?si=PxnxU9hRTeeOR8ZPT5c_oA
