Dessie Hutchinson says Waterford not far off All-Ireland finalists

Waterford and Ballygunner hurler Dessie Hutchinson claims Waterford are not far off All-Ireland finalists Clare and Cork.

It was another disappointing season for Waterford, who failed to get out of the round-robin stage of the Munster championship.

Hutchinson says it was made all the more frustrating by the fact it was Cork and Clare in the final. Waterford defeated Cork by two points, and came up just short against Clare in the championship.

While the Waterford forward says this was tough to take, he takes optimism heading into 2025.

Following Davy Fitzgerald's departure, Peter Queally has taken over, and Hutchinson is confident Waterford can be among the contenders next season.

“You are watching such a good game and you are within a puck of a ball of both teams. Cork were within a puck of a ball of us and we were within a puck of a ball of Clare. You were just thinking that could be us there. It gives a lot of motivation to get back there and play in some of those massive games.

"The biggest thing we took from it is we aren’t too far away, where in other years we had a lot of work to do in the next while.

"It gives us hope going into this year that we’re right up there with the best teams. I think it gives the whole country hope again that there’s an opening for teams to go at it. Over the last few years, a lot of teams would have been kind of fearful of Limerick when they kept winning it but it opens the door again for everyone.

"Cork are going to come stronger than they were last year. We’re going to try and bridge that gap as well. Limerick are going to want to win it back. There are Leinster teams that are going to give it another go too so there’s loads to play for."

For now, the focus is on Ballygunner, as they