“They were angry, they were mad, they were disappointed” - Peter Queally
Waterford Senior hurling manager Peter Queally during his side's clash with Laois at Walsh Park. Photos: INPHO/Ken Sutton
The result pleased Peter Queally more than the performance on Sunday as Waterford got off the mark in Division 1B.
“The performance was very sketchy,” he admitted as a bitterly cold wind continued to whip across Walsh Park. “Very nervous at times, overkeen and overanxious. That would have shown with the ill-discipline and the concession of frees. They scored a lot of frees and missed a few as well so it could have been tighter. It’s an area we need to improve on."
Queally was happy with what he saw in training during the week. “Brilliant response, as you’d expect. There was very little I had to say on Tuesday night or Friday night, lads were really revved up, really up for it. A lot of emotion there, they were angry, they were sad, they were mad, they were disappointed.
“They channelled a lot of that today. It spilled over a small bit, our hurling was a bit off but I couldn't fault them for the effort and the intensity. At times, our option taking and our hurling let us down. We’ve a lot to work on in the coming weeks to get to where we want to be."
A big cheer greeted the return of new captain Dessie Hutchinson eight minutes from time Ballygunner club mate Peter Hogan was also introduced as the hosts rattled off four late points. “It’s good to get fellas back and get a bit of game time into them. That’s Carthach Daly’s first game in 18 months. He got stronger as the game went on. Peter Hogan made a big difference when he came on. Maybe the scoreline was a bit flattering in the end but it was nice to finish strong.”
The departure of Shane Bennett at half-time, after shooting two points from wing back, was a worry. “Shane went off with a nasty enough looking injury; he got a dead leg but it went down into his knee. Hopefully, he’ll be ok. It’s one thing to be getting them back but we want to hold onto the fellas that we have too. We will hopefully have a few more back in the next two weeks which will be a big help. Hopefully the lads that are playing Fitzgibbon will come through as well.”
Next up for is a trip to Antrim on February 23 for the Davy Derby. "It will be nice to meet up with him again! I'm sure he'll be easy on us and he won't be too motivated! It's a tough place to go, there's no doubt about it. Antrim are a different team up in Corrigan Park. This is going to be a huge task, a huge challenge.”
He hopes that Sunday’s win will boost morale. “We still have a bit of work to do on the confidence, put a few more performances back to back and a bit of consistency and then the confidence will come. I think you could see at times today that they were a little bit affected by nerves and tension. Our decision making at times was poor enough. We could have been a little bit more direct. The lads were doing very well inside and we messed around with balls in the middle of the field.”
Padraig Fitzgerald impressed by nailing thirteen of his fourteen dead ball opportunities. “He's an excellent striker of the ball. We’ve other good free takers to come back so there might be a bit of competition. Padraig now will have to go away and focus on other parts of his game as well to make sure that he is on the starting fifteen again.”
Man of the match Jamie Barron conceded that it was a difficult week in camp. “It’s been tough obviously. We wanted a much better performance last week and a result but it didn’t come. All you can do is turn it around the next day you go out. At stages we were good today but at stages we weren’t so good.” What must they fix for Antrim in two weeks? “Our delivery of ball, our work rate at times, we’re conceding too many easy scores and giving away too many easy frees. There’s loads to work on.” This is his thirteenth inter county season. The Fourmilewater man is still enjoying his hurling. “It’s great to be in and around the lads. Look, there’s not much more you want to be at. The winter is long enough so to get out of the house and get down training is fantastic.”
