When Ephie Fitzgerald’s phone rang earlier this summer, the Nemo Rangers man wasn’t expecting to be asked back into the Deise hotseat.

“I suppose the approach kind of came out of the blue,” Fitzgerald admits. “I spoke to the Chairman, I spoke to a few of the players, and gave it a bit of consideration for a few days. Here I am now, looking forward to the challenge and looking forward to getting stuck in again.”

It marks the Cork native’s second stint in charge of Waterford senior footballers. Having previously led the county from 2021 to 2023, he returns now as successor to Paul Shankey. His backroom team will be confirmed in the coming weeks, but Fitzgerald says the advantage this time around is clear: “I have a fair idea of what’s going on down there. I know the players, I know the set-up. That familiarity is really important.”

Fitzgerald is keenly aware that managing Waterford is no easy task. Competing in a county where hurling naturally dominates, football has often been treated as an afterthought. Yet he refuses to accept the narrative that Waterford football is unwanted or irrelevant.

“Football has always been promoted in Waterford, in spite of what the perception might be with some people,” he insists. “Anything I asked for from the County Board, I got. The cooperation and the goodwill of people down there has been absolutely fantastic. That’s one of the reasons why I came back.”

His first spell in charge was about building competitiveness. Wins were scarce, but Fitzgerald believes the performances told a truer story.

“When I started, things were at a bit of a low ebb. We weren’t very successful in terms of winning matches, but we were very competitive in all our games as we went on. From that point of view, I was happy with the progress we made – and that progress was sustained over the last couple of years. Now the hope is to bring some of the younger players through and push things on.”

Fitzgerald is realistic about the challenge of assembling a committed squad in a county where hurling is king. Rather than lament the situation, he sees an opportunity.

“I’m not a fool. Hurling is the big draw. If fellas have the opportunity to play hurling, fair enough. What I’d be hoping is that guys who are on the periphery of the hurling would commit to the football rather than hoping to get on the hurling panel. That’s something we’ll be chatting about.”

He is clear that standards must be set from the beginning. “I’d hope we’d have 24 or 25 training minimum every night. We lacked that the first time I was there. I want us starting on the front foot so that by the time we get to the league, we’re in a strong position in terms of numbers and preparation.”

One of Fitzgerald’s priorities is to challenge the long-standing perception that Waterford footballers lack ambition.

11 January 2022; Waterford manager Ephie Fitzgerald during the McGrath Cup Group A match between Cork and Waterford at Páirc Uí Rinn in Cork. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

“There’s a very proud football tradition in Waterford,” he stresses. “There are very, very good footballers in the county. Performances at inter-county level in recent years have been good – they just haven’t translated into results. That’s the task: getting over the line.”

For Fitzgerald, the issue is as much psychological as tactical.

“Sometimes when you’re not used to winning, you can be level or a point up with ten minutes to go and suddenly there’s a fear factor. Either you try to hold on to what you have or you get too anxious, and mistakes creep in. That’s a mindset issue. We’ve been in so many situations where we should have won matches but didn’t because of silly things. It’s fine margins – and that’s what we need to improve.”

He points to the great Dublin team as a model. “They won a lot of matches by a point. That wasn’t by accident – it was worked on, over and over again. There was a trust element. Players trusted one another. That’s what we need to build – that sense of belief that we can win tight games.”

The introduction of new rules in Gaelic football has created plenty of debate, but Fitzgerald believes Waterford can benefit.

“There’s a lot of pace in Waterford football. What we need to do is get the balance right – be defensively strong while also breaking with speed. I’m a great believer in game-based training. Almost everything we do will be game-based, so that we’re well-drilled in how we want to play.”

He is less convinced about certain rules, however. “I don’t agree with two points for frees – I think that’s too penal. The mark has been over-complicated. Overall, though, the changes have been positive, and I think they’ll suit us.”

Blending youth with experience will be key to Waterford’s future, Fitzgerald says.

“There’s no shortage of young talent. We’ve seen results at minor and under-20 level, and that breeds confidence. It’s about integrating those lads and giving them time. At county level, you almost have to give a fella a season to settle. If you put pressure on him after one mistake, he won’t grow. If you give him three or four games, he’ll find his feet.”

That youth will be supported by seasoned campaigners. “We’ve massive experience too – the likes of Paudie Hunt, the Currys, Conor Murray. They’ve been around, soldering long and hard with Waterford. It’s about creating that blend.”

When it comes to setting goals, Fitzgerald is blunt: he doesn’t do hard targets.

“I never look at things in terms of results. It’s all about performance. How are we performing? Can we do better next week? If performances improve, then results will improve. The only non-negotiable is effort. If you’re not giving 100%, that’s not acceptable. Mistakes, referees, conditions – they’re sideshows. All that matters is the work-rate and the performance.”

This philosophy, he says, applies to football and life alike. “At the end of the day, any inter-county sport is a lifestyle choice. People say it’s a sacrifice, but it’s not if you buy into it. You get the best of facilities, you make friends, you travel. You might not be out every weekend, but that’s the choice you make. I hope a lot of lads see it that way and commit to us.”

“I’m not going to stand here and say we’ll win All-Irelands. That’s not realistic. Can we develop footballers? Can we develop people? Can we create an environment where lads enjoy it, improve, and maybe change how people talk about Waterford football? Absolutely. That’s why I came back.”

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