Molumphy boost for Waterford

WATERFORD last night received a major boost for Sunday’s Munster SHC final against Tipperary at Semple Stadium when co-captain Stephen Molumphy was named to lead the attack in a sector notable again for the exclusion of 2007 Hurler of The Year Dan Shanahan.

Forced to retire at half-time in the replayed semi-final with Limerick following a collision with Brian Geary, the Ballyduff Upper clubman was considered to have less than a 50/50chance of making the final up to a few days ago.

However, he came through a testing run out at Fraher Field last night and convinced Déise boss Davy Fitzgerald and his management team to hand him the centre forward jersey.

However, it is understood Molumphy will have to have another workout on Sunday morning to dispel any lingering doubts about his fitness.

In the only defensive change from the sextet that fronted goalkeeper Clinton Hennessy in the semi-final replay, Tallow’s Aidan Kearney returns at left half back.

The Shane O’Sullivan/Kevin Moran midfield partnership is retained with Moran having recovered from the knock he took against Limerick. However there are both positional and personal changes in an attack. With Molumphy now handed the number 11 shirt Seamus Prendergast moves to the right wing, with Dungarvan’s Jamie Nagle getting the nod on the opposite flank ahead of Shanahan.

The change in personnel sees Ballyduff Lower’s Jack Kennedy named at top of the left to the exclusion of Eoin McGrath. John Mullane and Eoin Kelly, as expected, are named at right full and full forward.

Meanwhile Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy has named the same starting side that defeated Clare in the semi-final for Sunday’s Munster SHC final against Waterford at Semple Stadium.

However, he has made a number of positional switches in the forwards which see John O’Brien named at left half forward, Eoin Kelly at full-forward and Noel McGrath and Lar Corbett in the corners.

Wexford have rung the changes for their clash with Limerick as Darren Stamp and Keith Rossiter return and Harry Kehoe makes his first championship start at Wexford Park tomorrow.

Rossiter comes in to corner back in place of David ‘Doc’ O’Connor. Stamp replaces his clubmate Michael Jacob at wing back. Harry Kehoe starts at midfield with Peter Atkinson in the subs bench.

The Wexford footballers, who had their first win of 2009 with victory over Offaly last weekend, have made just one change in personnel for tomorrow’s All-Ireland qualifying clash with Roscommon at Wexford Park. Kieran Kennedy of Cloughbawn will start his first championship game this year in place of Damien Carter.

Longford, with Kevin Smith free to play after receiving two yellow cards in last weekend’s victory over Leitrim, are unchanged for the qualifier with Kerry at Pearse Park on Saturday.

Monaghan manager Seamus McEnaney has named an unchanged team from that which started against Armagh for tomorrow’s round 2 qualifier against Derry in Clones. There is one change from the Monaghan team that started against Derry in Celtic Park back in May with Mark Downey replacing the suspended Tómas Freeman.

Mick O’Dwyer has named an unchanged team for Wicklow’s second round game of the All-Ireland Qualifiers against Cavan Aughrim tomorrow. This means Tony Hannon and Thomas Walsh will take their respective centre-forward and midfield positions on the team, having been sent off in the Fermanagh match last weekend.

TIPPERARY (SHC v Waterford): B. Cummins; P. Stapleton, P. Curran, C. O’Brien; D. Fanning, C. O’Mahony, P. Maher; J. Woodlock, S. McGrath; P. Kerwick, S. Callanan, J. O’Brien; N. McGrath, E. Kelly, L. Corbett.

WATERFORD: (SHC v Tipperary): C. Hennessy; E. Murphy, D. Prendergast, N. Connors; T. Browne, M. Walsh, A. Kearney; S. O’Sullivan, K. Moran; S. Prendergast, S. Molumphy, J. Nagle; J. Mullane, E. Kelly, J. Kennedy.

WEXFORD (SHC v Limerick): D. Fitzhenry; M. Travers, P. Roche, K. Rossiter; D. Stamp, P. Kehoe, C. Kenny. H. Kehoe, D. Lyng; P. J. Nolan, W. Doran, R. Jacob; D. Redmond, E. Martin, S. Doyle.

CLARE (SHC v Galway): P. Brennan; P. Vaughan, J. McInerney, G. O’Grady; A. Markham, B. Bugler, P. Donnellan; B. O’Connell, T. Griffen; T. Carmody, D. McMahon, C. Ryan; N. Gilligan, D. Barrett, J. Clancy.

MONAGHAN (SFC v Derry): P. McBennett; D. Mone, V. Corey, D. McArdle; D Freeman, G. McQuaid, D. Hughes; E. Lennon, D. Clerkin; S. Gollogly, P. Finlay, C. McManus;. M. Downey, R. Ronaghan, R. Woods.

LONGFORD (SFC v Kerry): D. Sheridan; D. Reilly, B. Gilleran, D. Brady; D. Masterson, E. Williams, N. Farrell; G. Dennigan, K. Smith; S. Mulligan, F. McKee, P. Berry; P. Bardon, C. Minnagh, B. Kavanagh.

WEXFORD (SFC v Roscommon): A. Masterson;. B. Malone, G. Molloy, . N. Murphy;. K. Kennedy, D. Murphy, C. Morris (Capt.); . D. Fogarty, B. Doyle;. S. Roche, R. Barry, A. Flynn; C. Lyng, S. Cullen, PJ Banville.

WICKLOW (SFC v Cavan): M. Travers; C. Hyland, D. O’ hAnnaidh, S. Kelly; P. McWalter, B. McGrath, D. Hayden; J. Stafford, T. Walsh; L. Glynn, T. Hannon; J. P. Dalton; D. Odlum, S. Furlong, P. Earls.

WESTMEATH (SFC v Meath): G. Connaughton; F. Boyle, K. Gavin, J. Keane; M. Ennis, G. Heavin, D. O’Donoghue; D. O’Shaughnessy, D. Duffy; P. Sharry, D. Dolan, J. Doran; J. Connellan,. D. Glennon, C. Lynan.

DOWN (SFC v Laois): B. McVeigh; C. McGovern, K. McKernan, D. Rafferty; T. Hanna. P. Murphy, C. Garvey; D. Gordon, S. Kearney; A. Rogers, C. Maginn, B. McArdle; B. Coulter, P. McCumiskey,

D. Hughes.

TIPPERARY (MH v Waterford): P Ryan (Upperchurch-Drombane); A Ryan (Toomevara), L Butler (Moyne-Templetuohy), J Meagher (Loughmore Castleiney); W Ryan (Clonakenny), B Stapleton (Templederry Kenyons), A Hogan (Shannon Rovers); A Cleere (Ballingarry), D Maher (Thurles Sarsfields); J O’Dwyer (Killeanuale), R Gleeson (Kildangan), E Murray (Templederry Kenyons); D Collins (Drom and Inch), S Curran (Mullinahone), D Butler (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams)