By Cian O’Connell

The new Tailteann Cup group phase structure will aid developing teams significantly according to Waterford’s Dermot Ryan.

Playing games and generating momentum is critical for any outfit eager to make progress so Ryan is delighted to embrace the format being implemented.

“We're probably one of the lowest on the spectrum in terms of the amount of games we get to play in the Championship, because it's very few that we win in the Championship,” Ryan says.

“That's the way it is. A competition like this, playing teams of a similar standard in and around that, yeah, it's big. Championship wasn't really anything for us for the last few years.

“We haven't been competing with teams, which is fair to say. At least now we're going to be going in with Division Three and Division Four teams and you're going to know that you can give it a good rattle, teams that you've been playing over the last few years in the divisions. You know that they've been tightly contested and that on any given day you're going to be able to turn over one or two of them as well.”

So possibilities exist for Waterford, who face a demanding Group Two assignment away against Down on Saturday evening. Meath and Tipperary are also in the pool so Waterford are keen to advance to the knockout stages.

“This year with the groups, four in a group, three teams come out of each group, it is a good opportunity to get the ball rolling,” Ryan says. “One result out of it will probably get you through to a preliminary quarter-final.

“Anything else then above that would be great. So you will have games which is what you want as a player.

“Especially for ourselves in Waterford, get a few games under the belt. From the start of the year we've kind of got better as the performances have gone on so we're really hoping to give a good go to the Tailteann Cup this year.”

Being involved in competitive fixtures is key for Waterford according to Ryan. “Even looking at last year, the teams that were in, say, Division Four with ourselves, the likes of Sligo, Leitrim, Wicklow -those three teams got a good run of it last year in the Tailteann Cup and they've been flying it since,” he says.

“Look at Sligo, they drove on, gone up a division, into the Connacht final and stuff like that. They nearly used the Tailteann Cup as a stepping stone, they just got on that momentum, kept it going through the winter and they've flying it.

“Same with Wicklow, they got a good few wins in the Tailteann Cup, again they're up a division now and they've been flying it since. So it is a good competition for teams. I think most of the teams are going to be looking at it that anyone can beat anyone on any given day, which is good.”

Waterford were beaten by Tipperary in the Munster SFC, but Ryan remains optimistic that Ephie Fitzgerald’s charges can make progress.

“I thought our performance against Tipp in Munster - we were relatively happy with it but in a couple of big moments they got goals and key points and that's, you know, goals win games at the end of the day,” Ryan says.

“We're looking forward to the Tailteann Cup, it's a competition that's going to get bigger and bigger over the next few years. You see how well Westmeath have done last year, and how much that has driven on their county and stuff like that.

“Even Cavan, I know they lost the final last year, but they've been going from strength to strength every year. So I think it is a really good competition and it's nice to see the GAA backing it now as well.”