Waterford selector Peter Queally admits that Ballygunner’s dominance of the local SHC has had a demoralising effect on other clubs.

The Gunners have raised the bar high by winning a 10-in-a-row and were fancied to capture their second All-Ireland Club SHC titles in three seasons before last Saturday night’s semi-final penalty shootout defeat to St Thomas’.

Speaking to RTÉ at the launch of the Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League this week, Queally said of Ballygunner: "They’ve set a standard that’s hard for the teams in Waterford to catch up to.

"My own opinion is some are really trying hard to get there and they’re raising their standards whereas a few others, after a lot of heavy defeats, are finding it hard to motivate themselves.

"You have a mixed bag and what you’re getting is probably a low-quality senior hurling championship.

"Let’s call a spade a spade, the best games in the championship this year were games that Ballygunner weren’t involved in. They were tough, they were strong, there was good hurling. They were competitive right up to the final whistle.

"Whereas the ones that Ballygunner were involved in were one-sided. They were over after 15/20 minutes. They weren’t a great spectacle and attendances are dropping off, so there is a gulf that’s affecting the overall standard of the championship."

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