Odds stacked against Browne for final John Murphy

WATERFORD captain Tony Browne is rated very doubtful for the June 29th Munster SHC final against Cork at Semple Stadium.

The inspirational skipper was forced out of last Saturday’s semi-final replay against Limerick after just 22 minutes when he went over on his ankle and x-rays have confirmed torn ligaments.

“You always live in hope of course, but right now I would say the odds are stacked against me being fit to face Cork,” Browne said.

“I will have the best possible medical attention over the next three weeks, but I have to say that my chances of making the final are considerably less than 50/50.”

Another immediate worry is Andy Moloney who was also forced to retire in the closing quarter after suffering concussion in an accidental collision with a Limerick defender.

However, the news about his physical welfare is encouraging and the expectation is that he will be fit and available for selection against the Leesiders.

Waterford secretary Seamus Grant confirmed a number of other lesser injuries yesterday in the camp, but said their biggest concern is for the captain.

“Tony has been plagued by injuries over the last few years and this is just about the final straw,” Grant said.

He said it was obvious that Browne was in trouble when he came off, but the real extent of his injury only

became apparent after he underwent medical examination.

“He has been playing superbly since the championship campaign began, right back to his very best, and if he is to miss the Munster final it will be a personal tragedy for the player and a massive blow to the team’s chances of becoming the first Waterford side to win back-to-back Munster hurling titles.”

Grant admitted to being hugely impressed by Cork’s demolition of Clare and said he had seldom, if ever, seen a team representing the county as fired up as this one was.

Grant reckons Waterford will now go into the June 29 final as the very definite underdogs, but that’s a situation that will suit them “down to the ground”.

He says Cork will be deserving favourites, but points out that Tipperary were also favourites for last year’s decider.

Before the Cork match, Waterford are expected to have one final try-out against neighbours Wexford, who booked their place in the Leinster final with a nail-biting last-minute victory over Offaly in Nowlan Park last

Sunday.

Meanwhile, the County Board has confirmed that all the first round games in the domestic senior hurling championship which were pencilled in for this weekend have been called off and will not now be played until after the Munster final.

Elsewhere, Waterford and Limerick renew hurling championship rivalry tomorrow at U21 level in Kilmallock with Limerick defending the Munster and All-Ireland titles they have won for an unprecedented three years on the trot.

Waterford will parade four members of their senior panel, including Allstar Eoin Kelly.

The quartet is completed by Michael Walsh and Paul O’Brien both of whom were introduced as second-half subs in last Saturday’s replay and Shane Walsh of Fourmilewater.

Three other members of the team, goalkeeper Ian O’Regan and defenders Shane Kearney and Kenny Stafford, are also on the Waterford intermediate team which has qualified for the Munster final against Cork.

Waterford (U21 V Limerick): I O’Regan (Mount Sion); S Kearney (Lismore), W Kiely (Colligan),

D Coffey (St Mary’s); M Mears (Clonea), A Kearney (Tallow), K Stafford (Mount Sion); M Frisby (Mount Sion), M Walsh (Stradbally); E Kelly (Mount Sion), E. Rockett (Portlaw), C Morrissey (Clonea); P O’Brien (Tallow), S Ryan (Mount Sion), S Walsh (Fourmilewater).