Déise go same again for minor hurling final

Waterford minor hurling manager Seán Power has kept faith with the 15 that conquered Kilkenny for Sunday’s All-Ireland final.

All six forwards have switched positions, however, from their two-point semi-final success. The beaten Munster finalists are marginal favourites to overcome Galway and cast aside a 65-year wait.

Kevin Daly captains the team from full back and is one of three Dungarvan representatives. Eleven different clubs are included in the starting side. Top scorer Patrick Curran (with 2-49 banked so far) is named at full-forward. Stephen Bennett is selected at number 10 but is expected to move inside. The Ballysaggart star stands second in the scoring charts with a return of 9-7.

Power’s charges have scored 20 goals in this year’s championship but the Déise boss is well aware that Galway have kept two clean sheets on their way to the September 8 decider: “They don’t seem to let teams in for easy goals, so to get a goal against them you really need to work for it.”

Power will also lean on his bench this weekend and has used 25 players since their championship opener against Tipperary in April.

Waterford: G Power; W Hahessey, K Daly, C Leamy; M Harney, A Gleeson, Shane Bennett; M O’Brien, T Devine; Stephen Bennett, DJ Foran, M Kearney; A Farrell, P Curran, C Roche.