Dessie Hutchinson (Ballygunner, Waterford) pictured at the launch of this year’s AIB Club Championships which for the first season sees a single sponsor unite four codes of Gaelic Games, honouring #TheToughest players.
By Cian O’Connell
Ballygunner are well used to dealing with a significant gap between the Waterford SHC decider and the outset of the AIB Munster Club campaign.
Early next month Ballygunner face Na Piarsaigh or Doon in what promises to be a particularly interesting provincial encounter.
On September 1, Ballygunner made it 11 Waterford titles on the spin, defeating Abbeyside, but Hutchinson has enjoyed representing Gaultier in the senior football championship. “It is tough, here is no doubt about it,” Hutchinson says about the break between Ballygunner matches.
“For a couple of us, we were playing football. We lost the semi-final on Sunday, unfortunately. That was a nice little break from the hurling, but you're still trying to balance the two. You're making sure you're up at the field, doing a bit.
“It has been tough because no other championship is really finished, and you can't get challenge games or anything like that in. It is definitely hard, but thankfully we have the experience of the last few years, to go off that template.”
Hutchinson relishes being involved with Gaultier. “In fairness to the Ballygunner management, they gave us two weeks off after the county final win,” Hutchinson says. “It let lads to maybe go away for a few days or to get the bodies recovered. Then they went back at it. I was playing football the week after. So, I didn't get too much of a break, but lads were able to come back refreshed.
Dessie Hutchinson remains an influential figure for Ballygunner and Waterford. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
“I absolutely love it, wouldn't be known for it, but I love playing football with Gaultier. We're getting closer and closer getting to where we want to get to. We were very unlucky at the weekend, but that is the way it goes.”
Peter Queally’s appointment as Waterford senior hurling team manager adds another element ahead of the 2025 campaign. “It is exciting for everyone,” Hutchinson says.
“Peter has been with us for the last couple of years. We all know him well. In fairness to him, he has Waterford in his heart. He wants the best for the team and the county. He is after putting in a very good backroom team already.
“So, it is exciting for the players and something we're looking forward to after another disappointing year, but also knowing we aren't too far away after the two main results against Cork and Clare. We were within a puck of the ball of beating the All-Ireland champions, and we beat other All-Ireland contenders.”
Waterford delivered defiant Munster Championship displays under Davy Fitzgerald in 2024, and Hutchinson believes there is real potential in the Deise panel. “There absolutely is, we've known that for a few years,” Hutchinson responds.
“We have a panel of players that can go on to achieve something. It just hasn't been good enough over the last couple of years. I know we played alright last year, but we still didn't get out of the Munster Championship and get to where we wanted to get to. That needs to happen sooner rather than later.”
