Waterford manager searching for talent

WATERFORD hurling manager Justin McCarthy and fellow selectors Nicky Cashin, Seamie Hannon and Kevin Ryan will announce a training panel for the 2004 National League campaign this week.

Given last week's revolt by Brian Greene and Peter Queally, both declaring they will not play for the county again under McCarthy, the selectors' deliberations are awaited with greater interest than normal. The selectors have been given an additional headache with the departure to Australia of the versatile Tallow clubman James Murray, a league and championship regular for the last two seasons. McCarthy and his selectors, with the full backing of the county board, attended all the concluding games in the county championship in their search for new talent. In truth, however, they have only met with limited success.

Mount Sion's outstanding young goalkeeper, Ian O'Regan, is likely to challenge the current incumbent, Stephen Brenner, for the No. 1 position. Another youthful player whose skills will not have been lost on McCarthy is Ballygunner teenager Shane O'Sullivan, who made the breakthrough into his club's senior team this year. Fourmilewater's Liam Lawlor, a brilliant minor this year, is another who may have sufficiently impressed the selectors to merit inclusion.

There will be at least one vacancy on the County Board executive to be filled at next month's convention following the announcement by PRO Paddy Dunphy that he will not be seeking re-election. Speculation that the two most senior officerships, those of chairman and secretary posts might also become vacant have been dispelled.

Paddy Joe Ryan and Seamas Grant will be standing again for the chair and the secretaryship, respectively, although it may be Grant's final year after completing 33 years in the post.