'They are all nearly back' - Peter Quelly glad to see Waterford injury woes ease

The Déise claimed silverware on Leeside on Sunday.

Dessie Hutchinson of Waterford lifts the trophy. Pic: INPHO/James Lawlor

There is a lot of good news for Waterford hurling fans.

Not alone did they claim the Allianz Division 1B hurling trophy at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday but Peter Queally expects to have near a full deck to pick from when they welcome All-Ireland champions Clare to Walsh Park in three weeks.

“They are all nearly back,” the manager said. “We’d be hoping by next weekend, two weeks out from championship, nearly all bar Austin Gleeson. He’ll be a little bit longer, he suffered a more severe soft tissue injury in his hamstring. He might be a bit tight for the first round but everyone else will be back in time for it.” 

The new league champions have come a long way since suffering defeat to Carlow in early February.

“We got a lot of bodies back, we had a lot of injuries in January. We had a panel of 42 but against Carlow we had to get two players that were injured tog out and make sure we had 26 on the day. It was the accumulation of injuries we had during that period.

“Gradually fellas started to come back and freshen up the whole team. We got a few key fellas back at vital stages which helped us to perform better. It is hard for new fellas coming in when they are surrounded by new fellas as well to make an impression. I think getting the experienced fellas back as the league went on helped the new fellas perform.” 

Waterford appeared to be coasting to victory against Offaly on Sunday but were pegged back to four points.

“We started very well, hurled very well in the first-half, a lot of good scores. Very wary coming out in the second-half because we started the second-half two weeks ago (against Offaly) very poorly. We hurled very well for 15 maybe 20 minutes of the second half but fell away then for the last 10 or 15 minutes. We would be really disappointed we didn’t close out the game.

“Having said that, Offaly had a lot of momentum there and brought it to three or four points but we dug in again and got a couple of vital scores coming into injury time.

“Definitely character building. We were never going to win this game pulling up, there was always going to be a kick in Offaly. I’d be delighted the way the lads didn’t panic.” There was one change to the selected team with Jack Prendergast replaced by Patrick Curran.

“Jack Prendergast picked up a shoulder injury last weekend training, he thought he was okay but we didn’t chance him today. It looks like Peter Hogan picked up a hamstring injury too in the second half and he will have to be assessed.” 

Offaly manager Johnny Kelly was happy his charges responded in the second half but he did take issue with a decision not to give Brian Duignan a penalty in the 58th minute, two minutes after Oisín Kelly’s second goal, 1-25 to 2-10.

“We couldn't afford to down tools, Jesus after all that has happened over the last while, it would have completely deflated the entire environment in there and it would have been very difficult to pick it up so at least we've redeemed our pride in that respect.

“I think Michael Kennedy (referee) had a really good game. I just think that that one decision probably was the one that we would look back on and have a bit of regret over. If that's championship, you'd be pulling your hair. It's a League final, we're promoted, so it is what it is. But I do know that the officials made contact to say that it was a must penalty. So what can you do?

“We were told it was a penalty within seconds of it happening. And then afterwards again.

“I'm only just saying exactly what I was told. Hand on heart.”