Fergal Whitely: 'Waterford match feels like a championship game'

Dublin hurler Fergal Whitely poses for a portrait at Croke Park after being appointed GAA’s Ambasadóir na Gaeilge for 2025.

Fergal Whitely says Dublin's crunch National Hurling League clash with Waterford on Sunday feels like an early season Championship game.

The two counties were tipped at the start of the Division 1B campaign to claim the promotion spots.

But surprise defeats for each county in recent weeks - Waterford were beaten by Carlow and Dublin slipped up against Offaly - has left them locked on four points each, three behind 1B leaders Offaly.

Offaly have an extra game played so all is not lost for Dublin and Waterford but whoever loses this weekend will be a long shot for promotion.

Speaking at the announcement that he is GAA Irish Language Ambassador for 2025, Dublin forward Whitely acknowledged that the stakes have been raised.

"I think the Waterford game is nearly a Championship game, the fact that we've both lost a game already," said Whitely. "We just want to win as many games as possible and if that means promotion, that's great.

"But you can't look past any team either, we have Waterford this weekend and then two more games against Carlow and Laois which will be really tough as well. If we can hopefully get a win this weekend, we'll take it from there."

Experienced Whitely looks set to play a key role at Walsh Park on Sunday.

The Kilmacud Crokes man has started all three of Dublin's league games so far having jumped between spells on the bench and spells on the team under Micheal Donoghue.

In attendance, from left, Áine Uí Choinn, Cathaoirleach Choiste Náisiúnta Garilge, CLG, Dublin hurler Fergal Whitely and Lorcán Mac Gabhann, Ceannasaí Ghlór na nGael, during the annoucement of the GAA’s Ambasadóir na Gaeilge.

But schoolteacher Whitely insisted it's all about the collective and pointed to improvements that are needed after losing narrowly to Offaly at Croke Park last weekend.

"We left opportunities behind and Offaly punished us ultimately," said Whitely, referencing Dublin's 14 first-half points from 25 scoring opportunities. "Offaly deserved to win that game. We definitely still have things to work on. We have three games in the next four weeks to drive that on. We have to get to another level and I have to get to another level before Offaly come to Parnell Park in the first round of the Championship."

New boss Niall O Ceallachain has flagged that half a dozen players including former All-Star Danny Sutcliffe will be eased back into action over the next two weekends. Four-time All-Ireland SFC medallist Conor McHugh is part of that group too.

Dublin will play Carlow on Saturday week at Parnell Park and may well know that evening if promotion is still a possibility.

Whitely feels they're building nicely overall and reckons it's the strongest squad he's been part of since coming on board in 2017.

"Na Fianna's All-Ireland club success, that's given us a good boost as well," said Whitely. "I think we're in a good place. Obviously the ultimate goal is to win trophies. We got to the Leinster final last year and didn't perform. That's still disappointing for a lot of players. That's our aim, to get back there this year and hopefully go one better."

Whitely said that taking over from Kerry footballer Sean O'Shea as the GAA's Irish Language Ambassador was an honour.

"I'd have some friends that we naturally just speak Irish to eachother," said Whitely. "When you leave Colaiste Eoin as a student, where obviously you're speaking it every day, you find when you're not speaking it as much it nearly makes you more proud to be able to speak the language. You nearly make more of an effort then."