The Big Match on WLR with thanks to George Corbett Mazda
Waterford senior hurling manager Peter Queally has made three changes to the side that will take on Offaly in the Division 1B Allianz National Hurling League Final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh this Sunday.
The Déise go into the game off the back of five successive wins – defeating Laois, Antrim, Dublin, Westmeath and Offaly respectively, having lost their opening match of Queally’s tenure away to Carlow at Netwatch Cullen Park.
The clash with Offaly on Leeside will be Waterford’s last outing before their Munster Senior Hurling Championship opener against Clare at Walsh Park in three week’s time – and Queally says that if you gave him a choice, he’d rather win that game than this one.
“I would like to win silverware, yes – but if you ask me which would I prefer, to win the league final or beat Clare, I think it’s a no-brainer. Of course we do want to. We don’t win that much silverware we can be blasé about finals when we get to them. We’d love to win and then it’ll give us a bit of a pep to our step for the following three weeks as we get ready for Clare coming to Walsh Park.”
That said, the opportunity for Waterford captains to lift silverware lacks a certain sense of familiarity – and the Déise faithful will be very displeased should they not witness Dessie Hutchinson doing such come 3.30pm on Sunday afternoon.
Defenders Ian Kenny and Iarlaith Daly are back from injury while Sean Walsh starts at wing forward in the three changes from the recent 0-22 to 1-11 success against the same opposition.
Billy Nolan starts in goal, while Kenny and Daly will play either side of Mark Fitzgerald at full back.
Gavin Fives, Tadhg de Burca and Paddy Leavy form the half back line while Darragh Lyons partners Conor Sheahan in midfield.
Jack Prendergast, Jamie Barron and Sean Walsh make up the half forwards, while the full forward line sees Bennett brothers Shane and Stephen joined by Dessie Hutchinson.
Michael Kiely is fit enough to be named on the bench but the Déise will be without Austin Gleeson, Conor Prunty, Kevin Mahony and Patrick Fitzgerald owing to injury.
Throw-in is at 1:45pm – you can join us LIVE on air from 1:30pm for build-up and analysis from our commentary team of Kieran O’Connor and Michael Ryan.
The Big Match on WLR with thanks to George Corbett Mazda
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