Peter Queally: 'You do have to stick to your principles. You do have to keep going'

TIME CONSUMING: Waterford manager Peter Queally didn't realise the time it takes to manage an intercounty side until he stepped into the role. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

If at first you don’t succeed, try again and keep trying.

The above is a life lesson we’re all taught at as young an age as the lesson will stick.

Peter Queally is a firm enforcer of this particular life lesson. It’s why he is finally serving in the role of Waterford hurling manager.

Queally did not succeed the first three times - 2012, ‘18, and ‘19 - he applied and tried for the Déise job. Michael Ryan, Páraic Fanning, and Liam Cahill succeeded where he didn't. This did not discourage or demur him from again putting his name forward when Davy waved goodbye to Waterford last July.

It's a lesson he is now busy passing onto his players. There have been five editions of the Munster SHC round-robin. Waterford have not succeeded in any. They’ll try again later this month.

“I kind of had drawn a line under it after 2019,” Queally said of his third failed attempt to ascertain the main sideline bib in Waterford.

“I suppose the fact that I've been with the group the last two years (as coach/selector), I saw the potential in them. I grew some good relationships with the backroom that was there in the last couple of years, the players too.

“I just said maybe, you know, there's still something in this bunch. There's still something there. Maybe I'll give it one more go and continue that relationship and work that we've been doing the last two years.

“To actually eventually be in the role, it's very satisfying. A massive pride.”

The timing of his succeeding couldn’t have been better. Having retired from the An Garda Síochána last February, he knows he’d have struggled to balance shift work and the Waterford gig had he been successful with any of his first three tries.

“The workload caught me by surprise. I won't say I went in with my eyes half-closed or whatever. The level of time, organisation, analysis, and meetings that go with it, and phone calls, is fairly full-on.” 

The workload still wasn’t a patch on the baptism of fire he received when Waterford lost their League opener to Carlow at the beginning of February. Certainly not the way Queally had hoped to begin his long-awaited tenure. The pressure, as you can imagine, only went north from there.

“Won't lie to you, it was a difficult period. But you do have to stick to your principles. You do have to keep going. Every game after that takes on huge significance and importance. It wasn't a case of pointing fingers or anything in the immediate aftermath.” 

In fairness to his troops, the necessary results were subsequently accumulated to secure promotion and a place in tomorrow’s Division 1B decider against Offaly. More importantly, the players succeeded in shortening the gap to their Munster opener on April 27, one week after the Munster opener of everyone else. Had they not, the gap between spring and summer fare would have been an uncomfortably long five weeks.

Their summer opener is at home to All-Ireland champions Clare. Six days later, they are at home to the All-Ireland champions of the previous four years. The two games will define their season and their latest push for a top three Munster finish.

The Déise also began 2024 with two home fixtures. They came out the far side with three points and superbly positioned to finally escape the province. In the end, though, they did not succeed.

“The home fixtures are paramount to get some results from them. It is a big ask. You have two big oppositions there in Clare and Limerick who have contested the last number of Munster finals. But it's also something we've been aware of for the last four or five months. We're relishing the challenge.

“We're conscious that the stadium in Walsh Park has been revamped. The pitch has also been improved. It's been widened. It's something we're excited about, playing there at the moment. We're starting to get the supporters back supporting us. They're enjoying it as well.

“Something we spoke about in our home games in the league this year is the importance of continuing that unbeaten streak that we started last year. It's something we're bringing into this year's Munster campaign. We want to continue our good form in Walsh Park.” Ready to try again once more.