Waterford selector Peter Queally jumped at the opportunity of linking up with Davy Fitzgerald this season.
“It was easy for me. I was spectator at a lot of the games in the last two years and I saw the talent that was there and the quality that was in this team. When you get somebody of Davy’s experience asking would you like to be involved, it was a no brainer. I didn’t have to put a whole pile of thought into it. Maybe a quick phone call to the wife to get the green light! That was about it. I knew from working with Davy previously that I was going to gain a lot of experience myself and learn a lot from him. With the experience that he has gained in the last fifteen years, that has come to be true. I’m learning a lot from Davy and I’m enjoying it.”
The Ballydurn man also served as a selector under the Clare man during his first stint in charge of Waterford. How does the 2023 Davy compare with the 2008 Davy? “Calmer! He’s gained a lot of experience in that time period and he’s gained a lot of success. He is using those lessons. The very intense hurling Davy that was there fifteen years ago has mellowed. While he is still very driven and very passionate, he is not as intense as he was fifteen years ago. There’s more perspective there.” That competitive edge though. “He’s very driven, he’s very ambitious. As he often says to the lads no matter what he plays, if it’s cards with his mother, he wants to win!”
Waterford v Limerick will be the George Corbett Skoda Big Match on Sunday. Join Kieran O'Connor and Eoin Murphy for live coverage from Semple Stadium at 1.45.
