Barron backs McGrath "100 percent"

Waterford midfielder Jamie Barron says he is "100 percent behind" Derek McGrath staying on as Deise boss.

McGrath led Waterford to the 2015 league title and and to their first All-Ireland final in nine years this summer, but the De La Salle clubman admits "it is not a definte" he will return for a fifth season in charge next year.

But the 2016 All-Star, who has been nominated for this year's Hurler of the Year award, wants McGrath to stay on and help the squad keep on improving.

"I don't know if Derek will stay on but I am 100 percent behind him staying on," the 23-year-old told the Irish Independent,

"If you look at the progress we've made over the last few years from being hammered in league games in Nowlan Park and Thurles and places like that to contesting and being very close to winning an All-Ireland final three years later.

"I think that shows how much he's done for us. Hopefully, with the progress we've made year-on-year, if we can make another small bit of progress we'll get over the line. But that's down the line."

Barron, who scored two goals against Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final, admits he struggled to last the pace during the 0-26 to 2-17 final defeat to Galway.

But the Nire-Fourmilewater midfielder insists he was not overly affected by the illness he suffered in the lead-up to the final on 3 September.

"I think that was blown a bit out of proportion," he continued.

"I was in bed for maybe two or three days. I don't know how people even found out about that. I don't think it had any effect on me personally in the game. When you're out there playing, you forget about all those things.

"I trained on the Friday before the final, missing maybe two or three sessions. But at the same time I took the positives from it and said it was a bit of a rest for me and just relaxed and got my mindset right for the game."

Missing the Championship already? eir Sport will broadcast up to 30 games from the AIB GAA Football and Hurling Club Championships in 2017. Coverage continues on Friday, 29 September on eir Sport 2 with the Dublin club football championship quarter-finals between St Vincents and St Sylvesters [throw-in 6.45pm] and Castleknock and Kilmacud Crokes [throw-in 8.15pm] from Parnell Park. On Saturday, 30 September, eir Sport 2 are showing the Kilkenny club hurling championship quarter-finals between O'Loughlin Gaels and Erins Own [throw in 2pm] and Ballyhale Shamrocks and Clara [throw in 3.45pm] from Nowlan Park. Later on Saturday, eir Sport are showing the Donegal club football championship semi-final between Naomh Conaill and Gaoth Dobhair [throw in 7.30pm] from MacCumhaill Park. 

Image: Inpho/Cathal Noonan

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