Queally should lead Waterford bravehearts into 2027 despite Munster exit
Waterford's Conor Keane is fouled by Limerick's Will O'Donoghue during their Centra Munster Senior hurling Championship clash at the TUS Gaelic Grounds on Sunday last. Photos: INPHO/James Lawlor
Sales of ponchos spiked around the Ennis Road on Sunday afternoon. A downpour was never far away. The heavens duly opened as James Owens called time on Waterford's championship journey for 2026.
Nine points was harsh on a Déise team who rattled Limerick right up to the hour mark. The diehard Waterford fans suffered through the rain and saw Peter Queally's men go out on their shield. They chased lost causes all afternoon. In front of the Mackey Stand, Shane Bennett, Jamie Barron and Michael Kiely hunted down Kyle Hayes and won a free. Queally punched the air nearby. There was a Conor Keane block and a Jack Fagan hook in the second half.
The Déise faithful jumped out of their blue ponchos over in the open stand when Kevin Mahony made the net dance. That Austin Gleeson sideline got them off their seats again. A first championship win over Limerick since 2011 was on.
Two Limerick goals in 60 seconds dampened spirits. Like the Cork game, small mistakes had big consequences. Mark Fitzgerald did brilliantly to beat UL team mate Aidan O’Connor to a ball but his clearance only found Gearoid Hegarty and Peter Casey ran the sliotar into the net.
Down Stephen Bennett, Conor Prunty, Iarlaith Daly, Carthach Daly, Aaron O'Neill, Ian Kenny, Patrick Fitzgerald and Padraig Fitzgerald, management and players gave themselves an opportunity of taking down Limerick in their own backyard. One point doesn’t reflect their efforts in this round robin. They had a chance of winning all four games heading into the last ten minutes.
There was a lot to like about the way Waterford set up.
Paddy Leavey on Aaron Gillane is a match-up no Déise supporter would have envisaged at the start of the year. He never gave the 2023 Hurler of the Year an inch. His tough tackling saw Gillane whipped off on the hour mark. GAA+ co-commentator Tommy Walsh described him as an animal on the edge of the square!
Management would have been happy with how Jack Fagan versus Gearoid Hegarty, Conor Keane versus Peter Casey and Mark Fitzgerald versus Shane O’Brien played out in the first half. Cathal O’Neill, supplier of five first half points, was the one Limerick forward they couldn’t pin down.
Again, Billy Nolan was brave with his puckouts. His short ones yielded long range points for Calum Lyons, Shane Bennett and Jack Fagan in the first half. Paul Kinnerk was clearly agitated when he got one away early in the second half and pleaded with his forwards to push up. He encroached on the field twice. Déise coach Donal O'Rourke asked fourth official Shane Scanlon why no action was taken against the Limerick mentor. That press forced Nolan long into the breeze which brought Diarmaid Byrnes into the game. Calum Lyons was his main outlet for the long ones. He also sought out Austin Gleeson upon his introduction.
The scoreboard read 15-11 in Waterford’s favour when Cian Lynch came on in the 31st minute. Adam English was the one who departed. He was on a yellow as well as a warning according to John Kiely afterwards.
From there to half time, the man back from suspension assisted two points, scored one and hit a wide. Sean Mackey was marking the two-time Hurler of the Year during this period. Déise management must wish they switched that arrangement as the Shannonsiders went in just one down after playing against the wind. The Limerick bench outscored Waterford 6-1 with Lynch and Tom Morrissey striking three apiece.
Two Treaty frees were also moved forward by James Owens for dissent. Both of them went over. The first of those came at 15-10 just before Lynch's entrance. O'Rourke roared at the players to keep their heads.
Shane Bennett was substituted after 41 minutes against Clare. The following week, he only lasted a half hour against Tipperary. Understandably, his head was down coming off the field.
That could have been curtains but he stuck at it and got back on the team. He shrugged off a slow start against Cathal O’Neill to shoot 1-6 on Sunday. The All Ireland minor and Under 21 winner can make the ball talk. His solo point in front of the open stand straight off the hurley is Shane Bennett all over. Waterford fans know he has that in his locker. On Sunday, he unleashed that ability in Limerick. What about the save in first half injury time! Billy Nolan would have been proud of that! This was his finest hour in a Waterford senior jersey.
If Bennett wowed the crowd in the open stand, Calum Lyons did the same in the Mackey Stand. It looked like he couldn’t miss in that first half. Oozing with confidence. Ten points from play over the last three games shows that he has grown into that half forward role. What a thrill to see him back in a Waterford jersey.
Kevin Mahony made the ball stick inside and finished clinically. Dessie Hutchinson and Sean Walsh didn’t fire but Mahony sniped 1-3 off limited supply. 2-8 in his last three appearances.
Peter Queally will mull over his future as manager as his two-year term expired with that defeat. Lady Luck didn’t shine on him when it came to injuries or refereeing decisions in this round robin. On Sunday, Aidan O’Connor clearly dropped the hurley as he laid the ball off to Gearoid Hegarty for the second Limerick goal.
As the bus pulled out of the Gaelic Grounds in the teeming rain around half 5 on Sunday, it was hard to feel upbeat but progress has been made tactically. Waterford’s short game and puckout strategy have developed match by match. They are playing to their strengths.
A second year with Donal O’Rourke as coach can only be of benefit. Queally called on the long serving players to go again in 2027. “I just hope they stick together now. They're going in the right direction. We're not far off the best teams. If we keep knocking on the door, eventually it will open for us.” Queally and his backroom team should take one more shot at it.
