Stephen Molumphy is set to oversee a significant reshaping of the Waterford senior hurling panel ahead of the 2027 season, with several experienced players not expected to return.

Tadhg de Búrca, Patrick Curran, Peter Hogan, Ian Kenny and Austin Gleeson are among those who are understood to be outside Molumphy’s plans for next season.

The future of Dessie Hutchinson also remains uncertain, with the Ballygunner forward yet to make a final decision on his inter-county career.

Hutchinson’s situation is unlikely to become clearer until Ballygunner’s club campaign comes to an end, with the Waterford champions set to face Limerick opposition in the Munster Championship later this year.

For de Búrca, the latest development would bring the curtain down on an outstanding Waterford career. The Clashmore-Kinsalebeg defender established himself as one of the county’s leading players, winning All-Star awards in 2015 and 2020.

Austin Gleeson has also been one of the defining Waterford hurlers of the modern era. The Mount Sion man was named Hurler of the Year in 2016 and also collected the Young Hurler of the Year award that season.

Gleeson had stepped away from the Waterford panel in 2024 and had subsequently been in and out of the squad.

Ballygunner duo Peter Hogan and Ian Kenny have also played major roles for both club and county in recent years. Hogan, who made his senior Waterford debut in 2016, is 29, while Kenny, who first appeared for the county six years later, is 33.

Patrick Curran has likewise been a long-standing member of the Waterford setup. The 30-year-old first appeared at senior level in 2015 and was captain of the Waterford team that won the All-Ireland Under-20 title in 2016.

Kieran Bennett is another experienced player whose availability is understood to be in doubt for the foreseeable future.

Stephen Bennett’s position is also unclear. The Ballysaggart forward suffered a knee injury during Waterford’s Munster Championship defeat to Cork in May, before returning to action for his club, where he has since featured in goal.

It is understood that Bennett has yet to decide whether he will continue with Waterford.

The potential departures represent a major change in personnel, with as many as 11 players from this year’s setup possibly not returning for 2027.

Molumphy had already signalled that change was coming when outlining his plans for the new Waterford era.

The former Waterford captain has made it clear that he wants to give opportunities to emerging players while maintaining a senior team capable of competing at the highest level.

That process will begin almost immediately, with Waterford senior hurling management planning an open trial for club players in November.

The trial is expected to take place at either Walsh Park or Fraher Field and will give players from across the county an opportunity to put themselves in front of the new management team.

Club secretaries will be asked to nominate players they believe have earned an opportunity through their performances at club level.

It is part of a wider attempt to make the transition into the Waterford senior panel more open, while also increasing competition for places.

Molumphy is also expected to bring several younger players into the senior environment in the coming weeks. Some of those players may then return to the Waterford Under-20 setup in December, allowing them to experience the demands of senior inter-county hurling before continuing their age-grade campaign.

The new manager has stressed the importance of creating an environment where players understand the level of commitment required to play for Waterford.

Alongside the changes to the playing panel, Molumphy has put together a backroom team with considerable experience as preparations begin for the new campaign.

The rebuilding process is likely to bring difficult decisions, but the message from the new management is that opportunities will be available to players willing to compete for them.

The November trial could therefore prove particularly significant for club players who believe they have what it takes to make the step up.

For Waterford supporters, it marks the start of a new chapter, with Molumphy trying to balance recognising the contribution of established players with building a team capable of carrying the county forward.

The 2027 National League will provide Molumphy with his first competitive test as Waterford manager, before the focus switches to the Championship.

For now, however, the priority is clear — identify the next generation of Waterford hurlers, create competition within the squad and begin building a senior panel for the years ahead.

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