Maurice Shanahan ‘50-50’ for Waterford’s clash with Cork
The Lismore forward is recovering from a severely bruised knee sustained in the club championships a fortnight ago.
“Maurice at this stage is 50-50. He has done nothing with us in terms of contact in the interim period between the club championship game against Cappoquin and now.
“It will be last minute with Maurice. We may well name him and be in a situation where he doesn’t play. That’s probably the chance we’ll take because he is an important player to us.”
The league winners recently availed of a training camp in Johnstown House to prepare for the championship.
“When you are together for four or five days in a camp, it helps. The guys took three or four days off work and sought no remuneration. They just worked for the cause of Waterford and that’s what they’re trying to do. We worked hard and you’d hope to see the benefits of it on Sunday but you mightn’t see the benefits for two or three weeks.”
Shane Bennett finished as top scorer in Saturday evening’s challenge win over Wexford at Ballygunner. McGrath remains uncertain whether the exam-tied Ballysaggart teenager will play any part in Sunday’s clash.
“He is doing his Leaving Cert on Wednesday so it’s a big decision for him and his family, in terms of playing any type of role next Sunday. We’re not sure.”
The game served as a fundraiser for Pauric Mahony and Pieta House.
In awful conditions, Waterford raced 3-11 to 1-4 ahead at half-time. Bennett, Michael Walsh and Eddie Barrett all netted inside the opening 15 minutes with Andrew Kenny responding for the visitors. Michael Kearney flicked in a fourth on 41 minutes to open up a 15-point gap. Wexford dominated the remainder however as Rory Jacob and Podge Doran goaled.
Shane Bennett 1-5 (2fs, 1 65); M Walsh 1-2; M Kearney 1-1; E Barrett 1-0; T Devine, P Curran (1f) 0-2 each; Stephen Bennett, K Moran, J Dillon, T Connors, T Waring, A Gleeson 0-1.
P Morris 0-5 (5fs); R Jacob 1-2; P Doran 1-1; A Kenny 1-0; J Kelly 0-2; A Nolan, R Kehoe, P Foley 0-1.
S O’Keeffe; S Fives, S McNulty, P Prendergast; S O’Sullivan, M O’Neill, S Daniels; K Moran, E Barrett; Stephen Bennett, M Walsh, C Dunford; B O’Halloran, T Devine, Shane Bennett.
I O’Regan, B Coughlan, N Connors, T De Burca, J Dillon, P Curran, T Connors, S Roche, J Barron, A Gleeson, T Waring, M Kearney, P Mahony.
N Breen; T Waters, W Devereux, E Conroy; P Foley, C Devitt, R Kehoe; J O’Connor, A Nolan; J Kelly, P Morris, A Kenny; R Jacob, P Doran, K Foley.
S Tomkins, E Martin, H Kehoe.
P Foley (Waterford).
