Kiely upbeat despite huge Waterford task

IT is perceived as being one of the toughest jobs in GAA management, and the man entrusted with carrying it out won’t disagree with that perception.

Kilrossanty chairman John Kiely has been re-appointed as manager of the Waterford senior football team.

While Waterford again failed to win a championship or qualifier game under Kiely this year, at least the county ended a three-year barren spell without a National League win with victory over Tipperary.

“That at least was a start’, said Kiely. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to build on it although we could, and possibly should, have beaten Clare in the Munster championship. Together we’ll all give it our best shot, and who knows how things will pan out”, he says.

In terms of the 2006 Munster championship, Waterford have been handed the most difficult task imaginable - a first-round game against provincial champions Kerry. The reality is that Waterford will be consigned to the qualifiers after that first-round tie, but Kiely’s determination to prepare assiduously won’t be diminished in any way.

First, however, he is hoping for a decent National League run, a campaign that will start for Waterford with a home game against Wicklow in February.

Meanwhile, as Ballygunner round off their preparations for Sunday’s Munster Club hurling championship semi-final against Clarecastle at Walsh Park, caution will be the keynote in the Gunners camp.

The club’s record against Clare opposition in this provincial championship has been dismal over the years, with losses in finals to Newmarket-on-Fergus, Wolfe Tones, and St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield.

Their one and only meeting with Clarecastle was in the 1997 semi-final but yet again the Gunners came away empty-handed after losing 1-16 to 0-16.

“With that kind of record there for all to see we will be approaching Sunday’s game in an extremely cautious frame of mind,” club chairman Pat O’Sullivan said.

“On the other hand of course the statistics should make us even more determined to end that long losing sequence against Clare opposition.”