WATERFORD HURLING manager Michael Ryan has recalled Tony Browne, in his 21st season playing senior hurling, for Sunday’s Munster final against Tipperary.
Browne’s first championship campaign was in 1992. He replaces Richie Foley at wing back.
Eoin Kelly, another long-serving member of the Waterford panel, has been dropped with Ryan preferring Pauric Mahony at wing forward.
The other change sees Noel Connors come in at right corner back as Aidan Kearney is out for the rest of the year with a shoulder injury sustained in the semi-final victory over Clare.
Waterford are contesting their 26th provincial final, having won four of their 10 titles since 2002, with John Mullane, Browne and Kelly chasing their fifth medals.
Meanwhile, Seánie Johnston is expected to feature for Kildare against Cavan from the throw-in of Sunday’s football championship qualifier at Kingspan Breffni Park.
Despite manager Kieran McGeeney releasing a starting XV that didn’t include Johnston – who is eligible for Kildare having completed the transfer from the Cavan Gaels club to St Kevin’s – a source within his former county believes he will start at corner forward.
Johnston has recovered from a recent shoulder knock and reportedly excelled playing off Kildare’s big full forward Tomás O’Connor in a recent internal training match.
McGeeney makes two changes in personnel after the surprise Leinster semi-final defeat to Meath. Veteran defender Andrui MacLochlainn comes in at right corner back, with Ollie Lyons dropped, and Robert Kelly is named at midfield as Pádraig O’Neill gets benched in a reshuffle that sees Emmet Bolton in defence and Alan Smith at wing forward.
Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte has made just one change from the team that lost the Ulster semi-final to Donegal with veteran defender Ryan McMenamin making way for Cathal McCarron at right half back. They face Roscommon tomorrow.
Peter Harte is wearing the number 12 jersey but is expected to drift deep into his own half while Stephen O’Neill could feature at centre forward like he did against Donegal.
Finally, Dublin hurler Ryan O’Dwyer spoke last night of the entire squad’s desire for manager Anthony Daly to remain in charge. “I’d love to see him stay and I definitely can speak for the panel,” said O’Dwyer on RTÉ’s Championship Matters. “We don’t want him to leave on such a sour note.”
WATERFORD(SHV v Tipperary): S O'Keeffe; N Connors, L Lawlor, S Daniels; T Browne, M Walsh (capt), K Moran; S Molumphy, Philip Mahony; Pauric Mahony, S Prendergast, M Shanahan; J Mullane, S Walsh, G O'Brien.
TYRONE(SFC v Roscommon): P McConnell; A McCrory, C Clarke, D Carlin; C McCarron, C Gormley, S O'Neill; J McMahon, C Cavanagh; Mattie Donnelly, M Donnelly, P Harte; M Penrose, S O'Neill, O Mulligan.
KILDARE(SFC v Cavan): S Connolly; A MacLochlainn, M Foley, P Kelly; E Bolton, M OFlaherty, H McGrillen; D Flynn, R Kelly; E OFlaherty, M Conway, A Smith; J Doyle (captain), T OConnor, J Kavanagh.
LIMERICK(SFC v Longford): B Scanlon; A Lane, J MccAarthy, L O'Dwyer; J Riordan, S Lucey, P Ranahan; J Donovan, S Buckley; E O'Connor, S Kelly, P Browne; G Collins, S O'Carroll, I Ryan.
LIMERICK(SHC v Clare): N Quaid; S Walsh, R McCarthy, T Condon; W McNamara, D OGrady, G OMahony; J Ryan, P OBrien; S Dowling, B Geary, D Breen; G Mulcahy, N Moran, S Tobin.
WEXFORD(SF v Tipperary): A Masterson; R Tierney, G Molloy, B Malone; A Flynn, D Murphy, L Chin; D Waters, E Bradley; S Roche, P Byrne, B Brosnan; PJ Banville, C Lyng, R Barry.
