In an early weekend, the primary contenders for the 2025 Allianz Hurling League’s highest league have nearly been ascertained. Key games took place that would largely determine the top seven districts eligible for next year’s Division 1A.
The favoured teams consist of the top trios from this year’s Division 1A (including Limerick, Tipperary and Galway) and 1B (which includes Clare, Kilkenny and Wexford), in addition to the fourth-ranked team with a superior record – a choice between Cork from 1A and Dublin or Westmeath from 1B. Thanks to Cork’s scoring spree against Offaly, they’re almost a definite selection, having a scoring difference buffer of roughly 60 points even if they don’t triumph over Wexford the following week.
Decisive games on Sunday essentially concluded the issue. Victories were seized by Galway against Dublin and by Wexford, who successfully stormed neighbouring Waterford. Limerick overcame Tipperary on Saturday evening and Clare, who rallied to vanquish Kilkenny, ensuring their league semi-final positions.
Walsh Park witnessed the southeast derby where the home team took the lead with three points at half-time, 0-16 to 1-10.
Wexford’s manager, Keith Rossiter, expressed his elation at the eventual 2-23 to 1-23 victory, gaining his team’s entry into the top league next year, while simultaneously expressing relief that an unsteady start hadn’t gravely threatened their position.
Speaking with Davy (Fitzgerald, Waterford’s manager) after the match, he was reflective. The major disappointment for Waterford, he felt,
was that a comfortable lead hadn’t been established by half-time. “We were allowed a reprieve. They gave us a sliver of space, and a cause to fight for,” commented Rossiter.
“We steadied our team. We managed to rein in a few of Waterford’s most damaging players, shackling them to a degree. Jamie Barron and Calum Lyons had far too much possession in the initial half. Our chaps managed to tag them, regaining control in the subsequent half.”
In relation to managing a squad plagued with injuries and preparing for an upcoming championship opener against Cork in just six weeks, Fitzgerald shared his tactics and approach. He acknowledged the struggle with lacklustre second-half performances from previous matches, notably the one from the recent weekend.
He stated, “I’ve made real efforts in addressing this issue, from making alterations to pre-match routines to ensure we start the second half strongly.’ Though they were on the brink of defeat in that game, it was noteworthy that the players never gave up. Fitzgerald anticipates criticism from Waterford’s fans, acknowledging their dissatisfaction is justified. But he asserts his team’s determination to persist and advances his rationale behind certain decisions, such as keeping certain players on field longer, citing a necessity to ready them for future matches.
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