Waterford bid to bounce back against Laois

The Big Match is brought to you thanks to George Corbett Cupra.

Attentions now turn to Laois for the Waterford senior hurlers as they bid to bounce back from an opening National League Division 1B defeat at the hands of Carlow.

It was a day to forget for the Deise at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday last, but attentions are now firmly fixed on rectifying that result with a focus on the future.

Manager Peter Queally won't have been pleased to start his reign with a sobering defeat - and knows that it's imperative to the cause that Waterford win at Walsh Park this weekend.

"It's a massive game for us. Hopefully, we'll have one or two bodies back. We won't have too many now - but I thought there was one or two debutants that played today [against Carlow] that played very well. They'll get another run out now against Laois. It's very important that we have a good week's training, work on the few things we need to work on and put in a massive performance now on Sunday. It's going to be a huge match for us."

Queally will be able to call on three players that didn't line out against Carlow - and is hopeful their addition will prove beneficial.

"There's Cathrach Daly, Paddy Leavy and Conor Ryan. Hopefully, they will be available - I'm told they will anyway. Maybe the three of them might bolster us a bit."

When asked how his side will approach the Laois clash, Queally's answer was a straightforward one.

"We'll have to be positive. Our backs are to the wall now. We're in a dogfight here in Division Two. We started out poorly - no point from our first game. Every game is important. The most important game now is our next one. That's Laois at home this Sunday."

WLR will broadcast the game LIVE. Join us from 1.45pm on Sunday with our commentary team of Kieran O'Connor and Michael Ryan.

The Big Match is brought to you thanks to George Corbett Cupra.