New Waterford hurling boss Peter Queally is calling on GAA fans to support Brian Greene and Waterford Hospice on Saturday evening in Fraher Field.
The Déise will face All Ireland runners-up Cork in Queally's first game in charge. €10 tickets are currently available online.
He wants to see the Dungarvan venue packed to the rafters as his former team mate battles cancer. “I really feel for Brian the last couple of years. He'd always come into my head, how he’s keeping and that. It’s important that Waterford people get behind this brilliant cause, put their hand in their pocket and support Brian in this really tough time. Think back on all the joy that Brian gave and help him out any way you can in this moment where he really needs our support.”
Queally soldiered with the Mount Sion man up through the inter county ranks. “He is one of the most underrated players I ever played with. There’s only two weeks between myself and Brian. We were both born in 1970. Unfortunately, we were a couple of weeks too early for the Under 21 team in 1992 so we missed out on that! I got to play with Brian the whole way up: Under 14, Under 16, minor, Under 21 and senior. You could play him anywhere. He had fierce hurling ability and he had fierce athletic ability. 2002 obviously stands out. We had a few big games that year. We had Cork in the Munster semi final. When Justin McCarthy and his management team sat down and looked at the opposition, they pinpointed Joe Deane as a danger man. Brian would have been a natural wing back but he was put back corner back and kept Joe Deane quiet that day. In the final, he was given the task of going back in the corner again and marking Eoin Kelly. Again, he did a brilliant job. Apart from his hurling ability, he had that in him as well to man mark and keep opponents quiet. I always remember that. He played behind me that day in 2002. I remember a high ball going in the corner and rushing back to get the break. Brian just caught it over his head, ran out to the side and cleared it 80 yards up the field. These things stand out. I can think of loads of occasions where Brian did something like that. It was a joy to play with him.”
Throw in is at 5 o'clock on Saturday in Fraher Field
