He admits his opinion is biased, but Antrim selector and former Waterford ’keeper Clinton Hennessy feels the Déise are second only to Limerick in the country at present.
On Sunday afternoon, he’ll patrol the sideline at Corrigan Park to watch the Munster men take on the Saffrons (throw-in 1pm) as part of Antrim manager Darren Gleeson’s backroom team.
Antrim have suffered back-to-back defeats in Division One already, losing out to Kilkenny in Nowlan Park before Dublin claimed a four-point victory at Corrigan Park earlier this month.
Waterford lost out to All-Ireland champions Limerick in a pulsating semi-final last summer and the 11-point winning margin was put into perspective when they Treatymen scored an even more emphatic 3-32 to 1-22 win over Cork in the decider.
Nevertheless, Hennessy, who retired at the end of the 2011 season, believes his native county are the most likely team to deny Limerick a three-in-a-row later this year.
Liam Cahill’s men began their campaign with an epic drawn encounter with Dublin in Parnell Park before routing Laois 7-31 to 0-19 at Walsh Park earlier this month.
“I might be a bit biased, but I think Waterford are the second-best team in the country at the moment,” stated Hennessy.
“I think there is a gap between Limerick and the rest. For the chasing pack at the moment, you have to be ready for when Limerick drop off or have a bad day - you have to be ready to pounce. I think Waterford are the team best equipped to take them on.
“I’d have Limerick, Waterford and Galway as my top three at the moment and I don’t think Waterford are too far away.
“I’d be hopeful that, maybe not this year, but over the next couple of years, Waterford can win an All-Ireland.”
As for this weekend, Hennessy insists there will be no divided loyalties in his mind, but there could be in his own household.
His wife Michelle hails from the North Antrim hurling stronghold of Loughgiel and it is where they’ve raised their three sons, although all three will be cheering on Waterford at Corrigan Park.
Hennessy remarked: “I’m married to a Loughgiel woman and my three lads are Waterford on the brain - they are mad about Waterford!
“It will be strange on Sunday when I’m going out with my Antrim gear and they’ll be togged out in the Waterford gear. . . they like to see Antrim do well otherwise, but not when they're playing Waterford.”
Every game in Division One brings its own unique set of challenges and Antrim have been competitive in their two outings to date, but have no points to show for their endeavours.
The fixtures aren’t supposed to be easy in hurling’s top tier and after Sunday’s home tie against Waterford, they finish their Division 1B campaign with away games against Laois and Gleeson’s native Tipperary.
The bottom teams in Division 1A and 1B will meet in a relegation play-off and Hennessy says it is imperative that the Saffrons retain their Division One status.
“Every game in the top division is going to be a big challenge for Antrim. That’s the only way they’ll get better, by playing the better teams,” said Hennessy.
“That’s why it is important to stay in Division One. The more games you get up there, the better we’re going to get and the more we can improve.
“No disrespect to the lower teams, but you do learn more playing the likes of Waterford, Kilkenny and Dublin.
“We are at the stage now where we are losing these games now because of our own mistakes rather than the other teams totally dominating.
“From our point of view, we are making mistakes in the games that are costing us scores and that’s the difference. There is no room for error at this level.
“You don’t get a second bite at a pick-up or a catch in Division One. You have to limit the mistakes.”
Gleeson is likely to be without Conor McCann for at least one more outing while fellow attacker Ciaran Clarke was a late withdrawal from the starting 15 against Dublin and Antrim will make a late decision on his fitness ahead of Sunday's clash.
