WATERFORD FOOTBALL HAS been boosted by the arrival of Ephie Fitzgerald as coach for the 2016 season.
The McGrath Cup holders will welcome the Nemo Rangers native on board following discussions with manager Tom McGlinchey.
Fitzgerald ended his involvement as Clare trainer following their qualifier defeat to Longford during the summer and had put his name forward for the position of Cork football manager before agreeing to become part of the Déise backroom team alongside McGlinchey and selector Tony Corcoran.
He guided Nemo to four Cork SFC titles in a row between 2005 and 2008 and led Limerick side Ballylanders to county glory in 2014. His previous inter-county experience includes a season with Limerick under Maurice Horan in 2011 when the Treaty county made the All-Ireland quarter-finals, and a two year spell in charge of the Cork minors.
Waterford boss McGlinchey feels that Fitzgerald will exert a positive influence around the dressing room.
“His enthusiasm and his attitude towards the game will bring out the best in Waterford. The good start we had to last year, hopefully we can take it a step further in 2016 and that’s the plan.”
McGlinchey’s charges raised the McGrath Cup in January following wins over UL, CIT, Cork and UCC. They only recorded one win in Division 4 however and exited the championship in June after defeats to Tipperary and Offaly.