Injuries mean Decies will start as underdogs

THE build-up to tomorrow’s clash of the Munster and All-Ireland SHC champions has been dominated more by speculation on the fitness of Waterford stars Ken McGrath and Paul Flynn than on their prospects of beating Cork for the second year in a row.

The net effect is that Justin McCarthy’s team will go into the first of the provincial semi-finals as underdogs, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that Cork are clear favourites to advance.

We won’t know until the last minute whether or not the two will start, but I am convinced that McGrath will line out at midfield. Recovered fully from breaking his collarbone in the NHL against Kilkenny, his lack of match practice is the greater concern but one which he can overcome.