Browne in line for Déise return

Waterford veteran Tony Browne is hopeful of playing his first county hurling of the year in Saturday’s All-Ireland SHC qualifier clash with Westmeath in Cusack Park (5pm).

The Mount Sion man, who turns 40 next month, did not feature in any of Waterford’s league games and also missed the Munster championship loss to Clare and last week’s win over Offaly, but is hopeful of making an appearance against the Lake County.

“I picked up a rib injury in a club game against Dungarvan about three weeks ago, and I had to come off straight away,” he said.

“As a result, I missed some training, and so wasn’t ready for the Offaly game and that was a major disappointment for me.

“But thankfully the rib has healed very well by now, and I’ve had no setback since I returned to training, so I’m hoping to get a bit of game-time against Westmeath.”

With Browne (pictured, below) set to start from the bench, Waterford have two changes for the game. Richie Foley, who came on against Offaly last week, comes into the side at midfield, with Paudie Prendergast dropping to wing-back as Jamie Nagle misses out. In attack, Pauric Mahony takes the place of Jamie Barron.

Drew Wylie comes in at full-back for Fintan Kelly on the Monaghan team for the Ulster football semi-final against Cavan in Clones on Saturday at 7pm. Wylie is one of two changes, with Stephen Gollogly coming in the half-forward line in place of Owen Duffy.

Armagh manager Paul Grimley has made four changes for his team’s game against Wicklow on Sunday (3pm). In defence, Brendan Donaghy and James Morgan come in, with Ethan Rafferty and Eugene McVerry being selected in attack. Declan McKenna, Ciarán O’Hanlon, Stefan Forker and Finnian Moriarty all miss out.

Justin McNulty has also rung the changes, with Laois having six alterations for tomorrow night’s meeting with Carlow in Dr Cullen Park (7.45pm). Of the side which lost to Louth in the Leinster championship, Denis Booth, Conor Boyle, Brendan Quigley, Damien O’Connor, Gary Walsh and Colm Kelly all make way. Paul Begley and Kieran Lillis are drafted into defence, Pádraig Clancy now partners John O’Loughlin at midfield and Billy Sheehan, Conor Meredith and David Conway start in attack.

For Westmeath, Dessie Dolan remains on the substitutes’ bench as Lorcan Smith and Denis Corroon replace Ciarán Curley and Doron Harte.

Elsewhere, Offaly senior football manager Emmet McDonnell has taken full advantage of the exit of the Faithful County from the senior hurling championship by calling up Shane Dooley, Seán Ryan, Conor Mahon and Daniel Currams to his senior football squad in time for Saturday’s qualifier against Tyrone at O’Connor Park.

ARMAGH (SF v Wicklow): P McEvoy (Dromintee), P McKeown (Crossmaglen Rangers), B Donaghy (Clonmore), J Morgan (Crossmaglen Rangers); A Kernan (Crosmaglen Rangers), C McKeever (St Patrick’s), M Shields (Whitecross); J Lavery (Maghery), S Harold (Carrickcruppen); C Rafferty (Granemore), K Dyas (Dromintee), E Rafferty (Dromintee); J Clarke (Crossmaglen Rangers), T Kernan (Crossmaglen Rangers), E McVerry (Mullaghbawn).

CAVAN (SF v Monaghan): C Gilsenan (Bailieborough Shamrocks); J McLoughlin (Shannon Gales), R Dunne (Redhills), K Clarke (Shercock); J McEnroe (Ramor United), A Clarke (Kingscourt), R Flanagan (Castlerahan); D O’Reilly (Belturbet), D Givney (Mountnugent); C Mackey (Castlerahan), J Brady (Ramor United), F Flanagan (Butlersbridge); N McDermott (Ballinagh), M Dunne (Cavan Gaels), E Keating (St Sylvester’s).

LAOIS (SF v Carlow): E Culliton (Timahoe); P Begley (Stradbally), M Timmons (Graiguecullen), P O’Leary (O’Dempseys); D Strong (Emo), K Lillis (Portlaoise), P McMahon (Ballyroan Abbey); J O’Loughlin (St Brigid’s), P Clancy (Timahoe); B Sheehan (Emo), C Meredith (O’Dempseys), C Begley (Parnells); R Munnelly (Arles-Kilcruise), D Kingston (Arles-Killeen), D Conway (Arles-Kilcruise).

MONAGHAN (SF v Cavan): R Beggan (Scotstown); D Mone (Clontibret), D Wylie (Ballybay), C Walshe (Doohamlet); V Corey (Clontibret), N McAdam (Monaghan Harps), K Duffy (Latton); O Lennon (Latton), D Hughes (Scotstown); S Gollogly (Carrickmacross), P Finlay (Ballybay), D Clerkin (Currin); C McGuinness (Ballybay), K Hughes (Scotstown), C McManus (Clontibret).

WATERFORD (SH v Westmeath): S O’Keeffe (Ballygunner); S Fives (Carrigtwohill, Cork), L Lawlor (Fourmilewater), N Connors (Passage); D Fives (Tourin), M Walsh (Stradbally), P Prendergast (Lismore); R Foley (Abbeyside), K Moran (De La Salle); M Shanahan (Lismore), P Mahony (Ballygunner), S O’Sullivan (Ballygunner); J Dillon (De La Salle), S Prendergast (Ardmore), B O’Sullivan (Ballygunner).

WESTMEATH (SF v Fermanagh): G Connaughton (Tubberclair); M McCallon (Garrycastle), K Gavin (Mullingar Shamrocks), K Maguire (Caulry); J Gaffey (Garrycastle), P Sharry (St Loman’s, Mullingar), J Dolan (Garrycastle); D Duffy (Shandonagh), J Heslin (St Loman’s, Mullingar); K Martin (Maryland), C McCormack (Maryland), D Corroon (Mullingar Shamrocks); G Egan (Tyrrellspass), L Smith (Mullingar Shamrocks), D Glennon (Tyrrellspass).

Subs: D Quinn (Tyrrellspass), A Purcell (Mullingar Shamrocks), J O’Toole (St Loman’s, Mullingar), D Harte (Garrycastle), D Dolan (Caulry), D Daly (Mullingar Shamrocks), P Bannon (Athlone), C Curley (Mullingar Shamrocks), D Dolan (Garrycastle), R Foley (Coralstown/Kinnegad), S Daly (Mullingar Shamrocks).

WESTMEATH (SH v Waterford): P Collins (St Oliver Plunkett’s); L Varley (Castletown Geoghegan), T Gallagher (Castlepollard), P Fennell (Castletown Geoghegan); D Fennell (Castletown Geoghegan), A McGrath (Clonkill), A Price (Clonkill); E Price (Clonkill), J Clarke (Castletown Geoghegan); B Murtagh (Clonkill), A Craig (St Oliver Plunkett’s), D McNicholas (Lough Lene Gaels); N O’Brien (Castletown Geoghegan), R Greville (Raharney), J Shaw (Raharney).

Subs: S McGovern (Crookedwood), S Power (Clonkill), M Keegan (Clonkill), T Doyle (Lough Lene Gaels), B O’Mara (Crookedwood), G Greville (Raharney), T Egan (Clonkill), N Leonard (Brownstown), J Boyle (Raharney), A Clarke (Castletown Geoghegan), C Lynch (St Oliver Plunkett’s).