Waterford manager Derek McGrath has confirmed that attacker Shane Bennett is taking a break from inter-county hurling, though he hopes the Ballysaggart man may return to the panel next spring.
“Shane Bennett is taking a bit of a break,” said McGrath.
“He’s been on the road for the last three years, so we’re just giving him a bit of time, more than anything else.
“We didn’t meet, we spoke over the phone, but he’s having a small bit of a break and we’re hoping he’ll come back in the spring.
“As I’ve said, a lot of these guys — Patrick (Curran), Stephen (Bennett), Shane (Bennett), Tom (Devine), Tadhg (de Burca) — they were brought into the senior set-up straight from minor, and they’ve been on a three-year relentless drive since for the Holy Grail.
“People don’t stand back and see that.
“I wouldn’t say they’re cheesed off but it’s important to stand back and give them the space necessary. We’d be aware of that with the panel. It’s what happened last year with Tom (Devine), he wanted to go travelling, so we can’t be hypocritical in how we approach things.
"If fellas want a break we have to absolutely go along with that because that’s what’s good for the young fella at the time and someone else might benefit from it in the longer term. That’s okay with us.”
Michael Moynihan Irish Examiner
