Major boost for Waterford as Browne fit for fray

DEFENDING champions Waterford have been given a huge lifeline ahead of Sunday’s Munster final with a declaration from inspirational midfielder Tony Browne that he is fit to play.

Browne appears to have won his personal fitness battle and is named in the middle of the field where, surprisingly, fellow All Star Eoin Kelly has been named to partner him.

No place in the starting line up however for Brian Flannery, Peter Queally, Seamas Prendergast, and Dan Shanahan who all shared in the glory of last year’s Munster final victory over Tipperary.

The naming of Browne at midfield clearly represents a gamble, but it will raise morale in Waterford ahead of the Thurles sell-out.

Despite a repeated insistence on the part of management that Browne wouldn’t make the game, sources close to the skipper have been equally adamant since last weekend that he has a better than 50/50 chance of doing so. While he has taken no serious part in any of the training sessions since the semi-final replay defeat of Limerick, Justin McCarthy is clearly satisfied that the captain will measure up.

“It would have been the worst moment of my career to date had I missed this one”, said Browne last night.

Speculation that the vastly experienced Brian Flannery might get a call up in defence after being left out of the starting line-ups against Kerry and Limerick have proved unfounded, and James Murray has been named in the left corner in a full-back line completed by Tom Feeney at number three and Brian Greene to his right.

The selection of Fergal Hartley in the pivotal role was always automatic, and on the strength of their consistent form to date, Eoin Murphy and Declan Prendergast deserve their places flanking him. However, the exclusion of Peter Queally from either a role in defence or midfield will surprise many.

Elsewhere the big news in a much reshuffled attack, however, is the recall of Eoin McGrath and the positioning of Paul Flynn at left half-forward. Flynn was in devastating form at corner forward in the two games against Limerick in which he amassed the hugely impressive total of four goals and ten points, and it remains to be seen whether naming him now on the wing is a pre-match tactical ploy.

The recall of Eoin McGrath, hugely impressive when introduced as a second half substitute in the semi-final replay, will be widely welcomed, but much more will be expected of former Tipp star Andy Moloney than he has delivered in this provincial championship campaign to date.