Hartley Return gives Waterford timely boost

KevIRL

Hartley Return gives Waterford timely boost

Kieran Shannon

Waterford have been given a major boost in their effort to win the Liam McCarthy cup with the news that former All Star Fergal Hartley has rejoined the panel after a year out of the inter county scene. Hartley, who captained the side in 2002 to their first Munster title in 39 years, played his last game for the county in the 2003 All Ireland qualifier defeat to Wexford and announced his reitrement four months later, citing work and family commitments.
However manager Justin McCarthy was hugely impressed with Hartley's form for Ballygunner in the 2004 club championship, and after several discussions between the pair over the last few months, Hartley has been persuaded to help the county win that elusive All Ireland as well as back-to-back Munster titles for the first time in their history.
The return of Hartley, who will be 33 early this year, now offers McCarthy and his selectors major options. Although he played virtually his whole inter-county career at centre back, Hartley is a player in a similar mould to TJ Ryan, and could be the answer to Waterford's troublesome full back slot just as Ryan was to Limerick's. He also gives the management the option, either before or during games, of realeasing Ken McGrath to midfield or the forwards with Hartley slotting in at his customary number six position.
It is believed Hartley's decision to return was greeted marly by the Waterford hurlers when they were told by management yesterday on their way home from a nine-day holiday in South Africa, where they also fitted in an exhibition hurling game in Cape Town for the local Lions Club in front of 700 people at the Hamilton rugby grounds.
Hartley's return is bound to welcomed by supporters around the county as well. He was arguably Waterford's best player in his last game for the county while the previous season he was an All Star and winner of the Munster Player of the Year. Hartley was also instrumental in the county's All Ireland under-21 success in 1992 as well as helping Ballygunner to the 2001 Munster club title.
When announcing his retirement from the inter-county scene 15 months ago, Hartley pointed out that it had taken a lot of persuasion from management for him to stay on in 2003.
Hartley wont have to wait long before he meets up with his colleagues. A trial game has been arranged for next Sunday in Fraher Field, while they have tournament games lined up against Limerick and Tipperary a fortnight later, before their opening league game against Kilkenny at Walsh Park on February 20.
Shortly before his retirement, Hartley stated on RTE's Breaking Ball his belief that Waterford would win an All Ireland, sooner or later. Others might share that conviction now that he's returned.