“It’s paramount that we get promotion”
New Waterford Senior hurling manager Peter Queally. Photo: INPHO
Returning to the top flight of the National Hurling League is a must for new Waterford manager Peter Queally. The Déise will tackle Antrim, Carlow, Dublin, Laois, Offaly and Westmeath in Division 1B next spring with two promotion spots up for grabs.
“It was pointed out the importance of getting out of Division 2 in the interview and I, a hundred per cent, agree with that. We’re there at the moment and as regards preparation for the Munster championship, playing in Division 2 isn’t ideal. Unfortunately, that’s where we are. It’s paramount that we get promotion to Division 1 and that in 2026, Waterford are hurling against the best teams and filling Walsh Park in February and March for league games. One of the first things that we have to focus in on is getting promotion from Division 2.”
A top three finish in Munster is another target for the Ballydurn man after this summer’s near miss. “Obviously, the big monkey on the back at the moment is the Munster championship. We were so close this year but so close doesn’t cut it. It has to be our ultimate goal to get out of Munster and get into the All-Ireland series. That has to be up there as the number one goal after the league. We saw this year, any of the three teams that got out of Munster, it really did stand to them, that cutthroat championship. I feel that any one of those three, be it us or whoever it is, is in a really good place to have a cut off the All-Ireland.”
Queally served as selector under Davy Fitzgerald for the past two seasons and other members of that backroom team are also sticking around. Tipperary great Eoin Kelly, coach Noel Mackey, physio Michael O’Sullivan and team secretary Ger Harris will all return for 2025. He is excited to add Dan Shanahan to the set-up. The Lismore legend previously worked as coach alongside Derek McGrath between 2014 and 2018.
“Everyone loves Dan and for good reason; he’s a likeable fella. He’s also a very passionate Waterford man. He’s a brilliant coach and he loves coaching. He wants to get better. One of the things he said to me was ‘I’m a better coach that I was the last time I was with Waterford’. I one hundred per cent believe him. Dan is not a spoofer. With that experience and those qualities, he’s a huge addition. The lads will really, really like working with Dan. I know they will.”
Shanahan coached the Waterford Under 20s in 2024 but Queally confirmed that he won’t be part of Ken McGrath’s set-up next year. “He had a very tough conversation with Ken. Dan is a very loyal guy. They’ve had a couple of meetings in terms of getting ready for next year. Ken gave him his blessing and I’m grateful to Ken for that. Ken could have turned around and said ‘the wheels are in motion here, we’re looking after the future and we’re trying to build on last year’ but he didn’t in fairness to him. Dan will giving us his full attention for the year.”
Thirteen-time senior medalist with Ballygunner Shane O’Sullivan will act as performance coach. “He has a brilliant international business going: Inspiring Excellence. It’s a very apt name in my opinion. Any conversation I have with Shane, I can see how he inspires excellence. I know from talking to him why Ballygunner are so successful. I can see it in him. He is one of the driving forces; he is one of the leaders. What he is still doing at 38, I don’t think many others would. I know from his attention to detail and his mindset, why he is still doing it at 38 years of age.”
