Ryan back for Déise

WATERFORD boss Davy Fitzgerald will be able to call on forward Thomas Ryan for the All-Ireland semi-final showdown against Tipperary, at Croke Park on Sunday week.

Tallow clubman Ryan missed Waterford’s three earlier championship outings — against Clare and against Cork (twice) — because of an ankle injury sustained in the Munster U21 semi-final against Cork in early June.

“It’s great to have Thomas back and he offers us some serious pace in the forward line,” enthused selector Pádraig Fanning.

“He tore ankle ligaments on the Wednesday night before we played Clare in the championship (on June 7), we’ve been without him since.

“Over the next week or so, we’ll be having a number of practice games among ourselves, and we’ll be monitoring the form of the players in those very closely indeed.”

However, the clash against the Premier County has probably come a little too soon for Ryan’s clubmate Aidan Kearney, who figured at full-back in last year’s championship campaign and is on the road to recovery.

Kearney resumed light jogging about 10 days ago following a knee injury but he has yet to make the step up to full training.

“As there is still 10 days to go, I wouldn’t definitely rule Aidan out of the Tipp game,” remarked Padraig Fanning.

Richie Foley’s finger is still a little sore after picking up an injury in the drawn Munster final against Cork which he carried into the replay. But Fanning expects the midfielder to be available.