McGrath blow, but Déise veterans ready to resume

WATERFORD star Eoin McGrath has been ruled out for up to six weeks with ankle ligament damage. However, that blow has been softened by the news that brother Ken and fellow veteran Tony Browne are due back in training with the county senior hurling panel tonight.

Eoin McGrath was carried off against Clare at Sixmilebridge in last Sunday’s Waterford Crystal Cup semi-final. Scans yesterday ruled out a break but did reveal ligament damage, with 30 year-old McGrath facing four to six weeks on the sidelines.

The latest injury setback follows on the news that full-back Liam Lawlor is due to undergo knee surgery this morning and will be out of action until April.

Former county footballer Lawlor made a huge impact for the hurlers during the 2010 campaign after making his championship debut against Clare in Munster. The Fourmilewater clubman, who plays his club football with the Nire, was hoping to push on this season and firmly establish himself in the number three shirt.

Lawlor, who played the full 60 minutes against Cork IT in last weekend’s quarter-final, struggled with the injury last year but when the problem resurfaced, the player’s recovery time was swift.

But the injury has now reached a stage where Lawlor was left with no option but to undergo surgery.

Ahead of next Sunday’s Waterford Crystal Cup final against Cork, Waterford are desperately short of options in their full-back line as Declan Prendergast, Aidan Kearney and Mark O’Brien are also unavailable.

Prendergast is not due back until March following surgery, O’Brien has been ruled out for at least two months and while Kearney is expected to resume training in a fortnight, it could be a further month before he is deemed match fit.

The good news for coach Davy Fitzgerald is that Mount Sion clubmates Ken McGrath and Tony Browne are expected to return to training tonight.

McGrath is back for a 16th season of senior intercounty fare while the remarkable Browne, Hurler of the Year in 1998, is looking forward to a 20th campaign with the Déise.

In addition, Passage forward Eoin Kelly and Shamrocks corner Eoin Murphy are due back next week, boosting Waterford’s options ahead of the National Hurling League opener against Dublin on Sunday, February 13.