Flynn makes captain's debut against Limerick

PAUL FLYNN will make his debut as Waterford captain against Limerick on Sunday.

Flynn, a member of the side for 13 years, will lead the side out at Walsh Park in the first game of the new Waterford Crystal Tournament.

"It is a great honour to have been nominated by my club, Ballygunner, to captain the county team and I am really looking forward to what will be an historic personal first on Sunday," Flynn said. He is following in the footsteps of club colleagues Stephen Frampton and Fergal Hartley who have also skippered Waterford in the recent past, with Hartley leading the team to Munster championship glory in 2002 when the Decies regained the provincial title after 39 years.

"There is great commitment and bonding within the camp, and I would be hopeful of having a good year," Flynn said.

Meanwhile Waterford footballers will be without several first team players for Sunday's McGrath Cup tie against the winners of the Kerry/UL game. Liam Ó Lionáin and Kieran Connery will be on duty with UCC against Clare; Paul Ormonde played with UCD in the O'Byrne Cup; Edmond Rockett lines out with Waterford IT in the McGrath Cup; Shane Walsh is in college in Edinburgh; Gary Hurney is injured while Niall Curran has opted out of the scene.

"It's not exactly a manager's dream," said John Kiely. "We've also lost a number of very good footballers to the hurling squad, in particular Wayne Hennessy, who would be regarded as one of the brightest young footballers in the county. We've done a bit of work with the panel and played a couple of challenge games but realistically, if we are to have any chance of competing with these guys, we'd need every player available to us.

"There is no point in going in against them under-strength. A heavy defeat would do nothing for football in Waterford. Having said that, those players who are available are looking forward to the challenge. They have been working hard in training and there is a good buzz in the camp. A win would give us a big lift and would be a launching pad for the rest of the season. The standard of football in the county at club level is very good. They can compete with the best. We have some very enthusiastic people involved with the senior county team and, if that enthusiasm could rub off on the players, Waterford football would be a match for most counties."

Meanwhile, there is concern in the Newtownshandrum camp about injuries to two key players ahead of next month's All-Ireland semi-final against Ulster champions Balgalget.

Corner-back Ger D O'Mahony has a back injury which, according to team coach Bernie O'Connor, will make him a definite non-starter. The other injury concerns one of O'Connor's three sons, John.

"He broke finger in training last week and won't have the cast taken off until the week before the game. These injuries have upset our preparations and will mean a reshuffle in the team, but we have to just get on with it,"

The four Newtown players currently in South Africa with All-Ireland champions, Ben and Jerry O'Connor, Pat Mulcahy and Paul Morrissey, are to arrive in Cork at the weekend.