Gavan Holohan: 'It has been a long time coming for something for people here to cheer about in football'

Derby day looms in Munster as double champions Cork City lock horns with Waterford at Turners Cross.

While clashes between Cork and the Blues have been best confined to the cups in recent years, the bridges between the Munster Rivals have become ever closer, with former City midfielder Gavin Holohan lining out for Waterford, following two years at the Rebel Army.

Speaking ahead of derby day, the attacking midfielder holds no bars when returning to his former club.

“I spent the last year with Galway United, but obviously it is going to be surreal going in on the opposite dressing room, but it is going to be good going down there.

“The atmosphere is always amazing and you are always in for a tough test. They’ll have a packed house down there so it is going to be a great atmosphere to play in front of.

“It is a local derby as well so there’s a bit more meat coming into it, so the game is something I am definitely looking forward to.”

Against the traditions of old, Holohan holds no grudges as he gears up to face his former side,

“I think it is something to do more so with myself. Focusing on myself, every game I’m going into I’m just focusing on myself; impress who I’m playing in front of and whom I’m with, so my main aim is do all that for Waterford”

Coming with Holohan is a large support from the Blues, with the First Division winners preparing for their first season back at the top flight in ten years.

“There’s a great buzz around the city at the moment. It has been a long time coming for something for people down here to cheer about in football with ten years in the First Division, so everybody is buzzing down here.

“We had a good start Friday night and hopefully we can build on that and have a good season hopefully.”

The infectious atmosphere he explains has found its way into the dressing room, with the Waterford squad bound as brothers in arms going forward into the season,

“There’s a great atmosphere in the dressing room. All the lads are spot on. Everybody is pushing in the right direction and for the same goal of a good season.

“There’s no cliques or anything in the dressing room, everyone has really come together. That’s really going to stand to us this season.”

Taking a step back, Holohan heaped praise on his team and set up, with the midfielder comparing his side to his days at Cork City,

“Going from my time at Cork you were playing with the best players in the country and the top club in the country.

“Going from that to Galway, it was a smaller club so the quality wasn’t as high, so going to Waterford then is somewhere in between the two.

“I’ve been really impressed by everything that is going on down here, whenever that is the standard of player we have here or the coaching staff and everything is so professional.

“Everything in place here is to be successful, so it is up to us the players to make everything professional.”