Browne back in the pink

BROWNE is hoping for a change of luck in the upcoming National League campaign after missing both test games in the International Rules Series against Australia last October through injury.

The Tipperary star, who gained his second Allstar a month later, made his comeback recently in a challenge against Meath and reports steady progress.

“I am back for the last four or five weeks, just tipping away, but getting there gradually,’’ he said yesterday. “I played in the Meath game and it (his injured thigh) held up grand.

“We’re looking forward to the new season. We have a new manager (Andy Shortall) and he is getting on great with us since he got used to all the faces and names. This is my sixth manager since I started playing. It doesn’t help, but at the same time you can’t beat a bit of change either. Things can go a bit stale after a certain length of time.

“Limerick set the bar for the rest of us last year. But after going so close ourselves in 2002, we know what it’s like, what it takes to get to that level. Limerick should probably have won the Munster final last year, but they missed two penalties. They showed what can be done when you put in the bit of effort.

“I suppose we all want to be like Limerick now and Sunday is a start for ourselves and Clare in the McGrath Cup.’’