There will be a new man in charge of Waterford for 2025, with Peter Queally stepping up to fill the void of Davy Fitzgerald as manager.
Fitzgerald's departure was unexpected, with the Clare man leaving after just two years of his three-year contract. Previously manager in the late 2000s and early 2010s when Waterford returned to the All-Ireland final, Fitzgerald was unable to deliver the same highs during his second stint in charge.
He leaves the Déise in the hands of former dual player Queally, though there is significant work to be done if he is to bring Waterford back to the top.
The incoming manager spoke to RTÉ's 'Sunday Sport' last weekend, and explained his surprise that Fitzgerald had stepped down.
Fitzgerald and his management team last year (a team which included Queally) had to contend with the absence of several major figures in the dressing room.
If Waterford are to return to the top, Queally knows just how important it will be to get those man back on the pitch in the white and blue.
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Peter Queally hoping for Austin Gleeson Waterford return
Speaking to RTÉ's Des Cahill last weekend, Peter Queally expressed his hope that Austin Gleeson and others who missed the 2024 season would return to the Waterford panel.
Queally said that the county would "need everyone on board," and that they were hoping for reinforcements to the squad for the 2025 season.
The one thing about Waterford is, we need everyone on board. For different reasons, everyone wasn't there last year. Through injury and taking a year out and travelling and stuff.
We'll be revisiting all them guys and trying to get them back on board this year. We do need everyone. Hopefully the lads that are already there will re-commit.
Austin Gleeson, Conor Gleeson, Cormac Daly - he'd a cruciate at the end of the previous year - these are guys that would bolster the panel, very much so.
Austin Gleeson took a year away from inter-county hurling in 2024, with the management team having to persuade him not to step away even earlier ahead of 2023.
The Mount Sion star was a pivotal player in the runs to the All-Ireland final in 2017 and 2020 and won All-Star Hurler of the Year in 2016.
Speaking to Balls.ie earlier this year, Gleeson had explained the immense pressure he felt lining out in his county jersey and the fierce scrutiny he had felt over the years from the people of Waterford.
You have those sort of people that are looking for stuff to spread it around. Waterford fans are great when they’re going well but when things are bad they’re probably the worst around, that’s being completely honest with you. It’s a hard place to be when things are not going right.
You just try and avoid it - thankfully now I don’t have to avoid it.
His absence was keenly felt last season, as Waterford failed to progress to the All-Ireland series for the third consecutive season.
The return of Austin Gleeson and co. would certainly be a major aid to Waterford's efforts in 2025, as Peter Queally looks to bring them back to the business end of the All-Ireland championship.
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