Hurling pair released for Déise’s clash with Cork footballers

WATERFORD football manager John Kiely’s appeal to his hurling counterpart Davy Fitzgerald to release Gary Hurney and Shane Walsh for tomorrow’s first round Munster SFC game against Cork in Dungarvan has brought a positive response and both players are included in the starting 15 to face the Rebels.

Fitzgerald had made it clear at the start of this year that he only wanted players on the hurling panel that would be giving a commitment to one code. However Kiely sought the release of Hurney and Walsh for tomorrow’s game and their inclusion in the side will be a massive boost for a game in which Cork will however still be the raging favourites to book a semi-final date with Kerry in two weeks time.

They must however still travel to Clare with the hurling panel and they will also be expected take part in two training sessions during the day before being released tomorrow morning to return to play against Cork.

Walsh has been named at midfield where he partners UCC student Sean O’Hare, and the Nire man’s availability is all the more welcome given he absence through injury of Mick Ahearne whose loss to the side is incalculable.

Hurney will lead the Déise attack on the ‘40’ in a sector that includes his brother Patrick at top of the left, with the line completed by the two Liam Lawlor and Liam O’Lionain whose form throughout the National League campaign has been outstanding.

Meanwhile, Monaghan manager Seamus McEnaney has handed three players their Ulster championship debut for tomorrow’s clash with Derry at Celtic Park. Goalkeeper Padraig McBennett gets the nod ahead of Shane Duffy; Darren Hughes is selected at wing back while Mark Downey is handed a start in attack.

Wexford hurling manager Colm Bonnar has revealed Darren Stamp will not feature in the Leinster championship opening round clash with Offaly. Stamp missed most of the league with a hand injury and is now struggling with hand and groin problems.

He said: “Darren is definitely out of the game. He missed practically all the league and is only doing light training at the moment. He didn’t even line out with club in the county championship last weekend.”

Adding to Bonnar’s growing injury list is St Martin’s clubman, Tomas Waters.

WATERFORD (JFC v Cork) E Cunningham; J Moore , G Dunphy, M Crotty; J McGrath, E Walsh(Cpt), J Hayden; D Casey, M Hennessy; S Fleming, A North, J Power; M Walsh, T Prendergast, M Ferncombe.

Subs: G Kelly, A Kiely, R Power, D Wall, P Casey, N Ahearne, K Power, R Hennessy, S Prendergast .

FERMANAGH (SH v London): P McEvoy; C Rice, F Bannon, S Curran; M Teague, D McGarry (C), M Slevin; R Bogue, B Smyth; J Duffy, K Kehoe, B McGarry; S Corrigan, J McManus, A Breslin.

WEXFORD (MF v Kildare): S. O’Gorman; M. Roche, B. Berney, M. Furlong; A. Nolan, B. O’Gorman; S. Sinnott, B. Lacey, M. O’Hanlon; D. Murphy, M. O’Regan, L. Óg McGovern; A. Goff, C. Doyle, D. McDonald.