Dessie Hutchinson captained Waterford to Allianz Hurling League Division 1B glory earlier this month. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
By Cian O'Connell
Another intriguing Sunday afternoon of Munster Senior Hurling Championship action beckons. At Walsh Park Waterford host Clare in a match that carries severe implications.
Peter Queally's charges have two home matches in a row so Waterford will be especially eager to thunder into the reckoning. Waterford triumphed in Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling League, earning promotion and silverware, despite a tricky start when losing to Carlow.
Inevitably, Dessie Hutchinson occupied a central role in Waterford's progression. Returning to the top tier of the league was important for the Deise. "Obviously we’re delighted to get the promotion and get back into the top grade, I suppose," Hutchinson says.
"We feel down in Waterford it’s important that we are up there and competing against the top teams all the time so it was a massive thing for us and we put a lot of emphasis on getting up out of 1B. We’re delighted we did so, but look, as you said, we played Carlow earlier in the League and we took a beating.
"I suppose most people outside of our own camp didn’t give Carlow a hope, but Carlow have some very good players, especially forwards, that would probably get into any inter-county team in the country."
Responding to that setback, though, was key, and the fact that promising young players are beginning to deliver for Waterford is a source of encouragement. “Yeah absolutely, absolutely," the Ballygunner clubman responds.
"Look, we’ve a lot of young players, a lot of young lads that have played minor, U20 all the way up. Then we have a lot of players that have played well with their clubs too so there’s definitely potential there and there always has been and I suppose look, at the moment, it’s very good, there’s a lot of competition for places and stuff and in fairness to the younger lads they’re driving things on and their standards are very good so it’s a great position to be in."
Dessie Hutchinson remains a key performer for Waterford. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
A recent training camp in Portugal was beneficial ahead of the Championship. Hutchinson sampled life as a professional footballer with Brighton & Hove Albion so enjoyed the training stint with Waterford. "The biggest thing is that you’re in each other’s company for four or five days solid where you don’t get a whole lot when you’re at home because you’re probably going to work or going in for training for a couple of hours and then you’re off again so it’s important the down time that you get here, to spend in each other’s company is nearly the biggest thing," he says.
"It really does build the character of the team and just being that bit closer to each other, it’s really important. Then, obviously you have the bit of warm weather for the training to prepare you for what’s ahead in a few weeks’ time."
Queally has forged a strong connection with Waterford's collection of emerging and established hurlers. "He has brought a lot," Hutchinson says about Queally's influence.
"He has brought a lot over the last couple of years as well. He has built a lot of confidence in us as players. He's a passionate Waterford man and he’s bringing that out in us now and what it means to be playing for Waterford, which obviously is a massive thing.
"If you go away from that you’re in a little bit of bother. He knows what it’s like to play, he knows what it’s like to coach and now he knows what it’s like to manage Waterford and that’s a massive thing so he’s brought a lot of professionalism.
"He has put a great back room team in place. Everyone is contributing fully. Every bit of help that we need, it’s there on hand for us."
A revealing stint awaits for Waterford, who will embrace the challenges ahead.
