Dejected Queally says marginal calls go against Waterford

The Waterford boss was upset that his side suffered two black cards in the defeat by Cork.

Waterford manager Peter Queally. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

It was an understandably devastated Peter Queally who faced the media in Azzurri Walsh Park on Saturday night after watching his team’s agonising four-point loss to Cork. Their cause was not helped by black cards to captain Mark Fitzgerald a couple of minutes before half-time after bringing down Brian Hayes and to Jack Fagan for a foul on Alan Connolly just beyond the hour mark.

Fitzgerald, who has relocated to full-back, could be in danger of missing their final round-robin game against Limerick next weekend due to an accumulation of ‘orderings-off’ this season.

It makes for a worrying time for the Waterford manager as his injury crisis deepens as well.

Ian Kenny, Iarlaith Daly and Stephen Bennett all had to be replaced.

The black cards were exceptionally costly.

“The black cards had such a huge bearing on the game, especially the second one. I thought we recovered from the first one well, the lads really dug in and Billy (Nolan) saved the penalty as well which was a huge bonus, it gave us a huge lift,” Queally said.

“We actually won that ten minutes by a point but to suffer the second one with ten minutes to go and the scores level, they get the goal from it and are a man up, that was a huge turning point for us and detrimental in the end.

“In fairness to the lads, they never put the heads down. They created a couple of goal chances, even with 14 men, Peter Hogan had a very good chance and it was an excellent save from Pa Collins at that stage. I can't fault the lads for the effort again today, they've been outstanding in their effort.

“Ian (Kenny) and Iarlaith (Daly) are both hamstring.

“Stephen must go for a scan. Unfortunately, he did his hamstring halfway through the first half and played on with it. Unfortunately, he jarred his knee before half time when he was making that effort to score after Billy's save, which again would have been a huge turning point. But off balance shooting, he jarred his knee doing that as well so it's probably not looking good to be honest with you.” 

Some decisions may not have gone their way.

“It doesn't feel like they go against us, they go against us. Let's call a spade a spade here, I'm here saying the same thing every time when it comes to these calls, be it black cards or whatever it is. And again, they went against us again today, twice.

“I'm so proud of the lads but I'd love to change that emotion to elation, I'd love to feel elated and not so proud but again, I'm massively proud of the effort.

“I said it to the lads inside, they just gave everything. Even when it came to bringing on subs, you're kind of looking around and saying 'Who do you take off?' Everyone's after giving so much and they're still but we just need to freshen it up so we'll take so and so off but he's given us everything and they all did, and we just can't fault them.”

They fought to the bitter end but the second black card, leaving 14 against 15, proved too much of an ask.

“Yeah, the second one we were (restricted). Having conceded a goal and going three points down against the elements, a man down but again they hung in.

“They were three points down at that stage and they were still three points down when the man came back on so I can't fault them for honesty and effort.” 

They have little time to rebound with a trip to TUS Gaelic Grounds in eight days.

“Obviously we're going to be licking our wounds for the next day or two but in fairness to these fellas, they've proven before that they don't give in so these fellas aren't going to give in before this championship is over.

“They want to hurl for the summer, that's their purpose, that's what they want to do. If we've an opportunity to still hurl by winning next Sunday, we'll be going for it.

“The message will be to just keep hurling with the pride that they're hurling with and just keep giving it everything, I'd like to think our luck will change and with that effort and our luck changing, who knows.”