The departure of Peter Queally as Waterford senior hurling manager has sparked plenty of debate about who should take over the Déise job, but the reality is, there may not be as many realistic candidates available as people think.

Queally confirmed this week that he would not be continuing in the role after failing to secure the backing of the Waterford County Board. While opinions will differ on the decision, there is no doubt that the outgoing manager was disappointed to see his two-year tenure come to an end.

As soon as a managerial position becomes vacant, names inevitably begin to circulate, but when you look closely at the potential candidates being discussed, many appear unlikely to be in the running.

One name that has surfaced is Pat Ryan. However, from what I am hearing, Ryan has no intention of putting his name forward. Having spent years involved at the highest level with Cork and also with his club, Sarsfields, it seems he has had enough of the inter-county scene for now. Add in the fact that taking charge of Waterford would mean competing directly against his native Cork, and it appears highly improbable.

Tony Browne is another name that continues to emerge whenever the Waterford job becomes available. Browne has been involved in coaching setups with both Waterford and Tipperary, but I’m not convinced he is the frontrunner many believe him to be.

Then there is Derek McGrath. The De La Salle man remains one of the most respected figures in Waterford hurling, and his name was always going to be mentioned. However, I don’t believe the County Board will be looking in that direction this time around.

Another name that may attract attention is Darragh O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan has built up an impressive reputation through his work at the underage level and his involvement with Ballygunner. However, I feel it may be a little too soon for him to step into the senior inter-county role. The demands and scrutiny that come with managing Waterford are on a completely different scale.

That said, he could be interested if the opportunity arose. One major advantage O’Sullivan would bring is his ability to assemble a strong and experienced backroom team. His connections from Ballygunner and his knowledge of many of Waterford’s current players would certainly make him an attractive candidate for the future. Whether that future is now or a few years down the line remains to be seen, but he is undoubtedly a name worth keeping an eye on.

Jason Ryan’s name has also been discussed following his tremendous success with Ballygunner, including their All-Ireland club triumph. For me, that is another non-runner. Ryan is deeply committed to Ballygunner, and I don’t see him stepping away from that project.

James “Joxer” O’Connor is another highly regarded coach whose stock continues to rise following underage success with Waterford. However, I feel the senior county job would come a little too soon. O’Connor is currently working with a talented group of young players and may prefer to continue that development pathway before considering the senior role.

At the moment, the name that appears to be gathering the most momentum is Donal O’Rourke. The Cappoquin man was part of Peter Queally’s management team and knows the current squad inside out. If the County Board is looking for continuity while operating within a limited budget, O’Rourke could well emerge as the leading candidate.

Ultimately, only the County Board knows exactly who is on its shortlist. What does seem clear, however, is that there isn’t an abundance of obvious candidates available. With financial constraints likely to play a role in the process, Waterford may be forced to look closer to home rather than pursue a high-profile appointment from outside.

The coming weeks will be fascinating. The County Board’s next decision could shape the future direction of Waterford hurling for years to come.

Sport on WLR is brought to you by Auto Boland Ford.

For the latest Waterford News and Sport, tune into WLR News on the hour and download the WLR App for news on demand.