Derek McGrath revealed he would be tempted to return as Waterford boss in the future despite calling his five-year reign with the Deise to an end.
The 42-year-old announced his departure in a statement in the wake of his side’s Munster Hurling Senior Championship defeat to Cork – a week after their exit from the championship was confirmed.
McGrath guided Waterford to five finals, including last year’s All-Ireland decider and the county’s third ever Division 1 title in 2015.
Derek McGrath shakes hands with Cork manager John Meyler. Image: ©INPHO/Oisin Keniry
McGrath joined Joe Molloy in studio on Tuesday evening and admitted he would find the chance to work with a new look team in the future very appealing.
“I’d like to think so without openly canvassing myself straightaway for it,” McGrath told Off The Ball.
“It’s important the new manager gets space to develop the team in their manner. But I would see a sense of flux over the next five or six years.
“Tadhg [de Búrca] and Jamie [Barron] are only 22 and I imagine when they get to 27 or 28 they will have a different outlook. They will be the leaders of the team if they aren’t already.
“There will come a stage where they will take over the mantle from Kevin [Moran] and Michael [Walsh] and Philip Mahony and Pauric [Mahony] – there will be a moving on period.
“It would be appealing at that stage but who knows what will happen in the meantime.”
James Hopper
