Ryan not sidetracked by Déise venue row

Waterford hurling boss Michael Ryan last night dismissed suggestions that his team would be distracted by the ongoing controversy over the Munster SHC final venue.

Waterford GAA officials were unhappy with Munster Council chairman Sean Walsh’s detailed account of the meeting which dealt with the Déise county’s attempt to switch venues.

Last night Ryan said: “We haven’t talked about it. We’re not going to talk about it.

“My job is to manage the team. What goes on behind the scenes regarding venues has nothing to do with me.

“We won’t be discussing it, and we won’t be considering it. We’ll control the things we can control, if we can, and we’ll move on.”

Ryan also confirmed two members of their full-back line have been ruled out of the final, revealing that Aidan Kearney and Darragh Fives have no chance of figuring against Tipperary at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday week.

Kearney aggravated a shoulder injury in the provincial semi-final win over Clare on June 17, and Fives sustained a finger injury in a recent club game.

Fives, who made a huge impression on his debut championship campaign last year, figured in four of Waterford’s five ties in the National League programme, missing the final fixture against Dublin.

Because of his shoulder problem, Kearney was absent for the Deise’s first four league outings, returning for the clash against the Dubs.

On the plus side for Waterford, however, is the possibility thatforward Paudie Mahony will return to action in the provincial decider.

Ace free-taker Mahony underwent a groin operation back in April and so missed the provincial semi-final fixture, but he is now very much on the road back to full fitness.

“Paudie’s back doing light training for about three weeks now,” said Ryan of the 19-year-old Ballygunner man.

“There’s a possibility of him playing some part in the Munster final but there’s no chance of him starting the game.

“It’s too early yet to make a decision about Paudie in that regard — it will be only 10 weeks [today] since he had the operation.”

If Mahony doesn’t get a run against Tipperary, he will definitely be fully fit for Waterford’s subsequent outing.

A victory over Declan Ryan’s charges would see the Déise through to an All-Ireland semi-final clash against a quarter-final winner on August 19.