Pat Spillane Says Cork Man 'Sucker For Punishment' After Taking Worst GAA Job In Ireland
Considering the time commitment now required in inter-county GAA, it is perhaps no surprise that we see a considerable turnover in managers at the end of each season.
This year was no exception, with 14 new coaches brought in ahead of the 2026 campaign. The likes of Ger Brennan (Dublin), Andy Moran (Mayo), and Ciarán Meenagh (Derry) were among the most high profile appointments.
However, some have also an raised eyebrow at appointments a bit further down the footballing ladder.
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Waterford are a county that have struggled to make much of an impact in Gaelic football at inter-county level in recent times, having been in the bottom tier of the National Football League since 2012. They would win just one competitive fixture in 2025.
They will have a familiar face in charge for 2026, with Cork native Ephie Fitzgerald returning for a second stint in charge of the county. He previously managed them from from 2022-2023.
Writing in the Irish Independent, Pat Spillane seemed a bit puzzled as to why Fitzgerald agreed to take over the team he views as the worst in the country at the minute.
Fair play to him, he is a sucker for punishment. Waterford are probably the poorest of the 32 teams. Last year they had one victory in the league.
What can he aim for? Maybe two or three league wins. Maybe one or two wins in the Tailteann Cup.
But with not much in the way of new talent, and a small playing pool, it is a tough year ahead for Ephie.
Waterford will be hoping for a better showing in 2026, although it is likely to be another difficult season for the Munster county.
It will be interesting to see if Fitzgerald can have a big impact on their fortunes over the coming months.
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