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Waterford boss pleads for big championship change as his side’s season ended

Published 11:54 18 May 2026 BST

Updated 11:54 18 May 2026 BST

Jack Fennessy
Waterford boss pleads for big championship change as his side’s season ended

Homesport

That's a bold statement!

Waterford hurling manager, Peter Queally, has hit out at the All-Ireland championship structure that sees just six teams hurl past May.

Limerick defeated Waterford this weekend by nine points meaning the Déise men were knocked out in the round-robin phase yet again for the seventh year in a row under the new format. (You can view the highlights below).

Speaking to media after the match, Queally made his thoughts known on the championship format.

He said: “I'm blue in the face from saying it, I said it this time last year and, of course, the keyboard warriors had a field day saying it's your own fault for not coming out.

"But the reality is the sun hasn't even started shining yet and we're putting away our hurleys. We won't be allowed to train together collectively until probably early December.

"We're missing out on this seven months while the top six teams in Ireland are going to start the All-Ireland Championship in three or four weeks and going to get two months of hurling in. We're missing out on this big time.

"There's only six teams contesting the All-Ireland Hurling Championship this year again. Something has to be done about it.

“What it would do for young Waterford supporters to be hurling for the next two months and to see the Dessie Hutchinson's and the Mark Fitzgerald's and all their heroes hurling for the next two months."

With the FIFA World Cup taking place while Waterford are knocked out the Dungarvan man said: "Unfortunately, they're probably going to be watching the soccer World Cup instead.” 

Queally finished by shedding light on his own future: "I'll have to go away and think about it. I had a two-year term. I'll have to talk to my family, talk to the County Board, and see what's best for Waterford going forward.”

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