Shanahan brothers to combine for Waterford

Dan and Maurice Shanahan will start their first Munster SHC match together when the pair feature for Waterford in the Bank Holiday Monday semi-final against Clare at Semple Stadium (throw-in 3pm).

The game will mark corner forward Maurice's full Championship debut, and comes just five days after he played for the Deise Under-21s in their provincial defeat to Cork.

The Lismore youngster gained senior experience as a substitute in last year's Championship against Tipperary (Munster final), Galway (All-Ireland quarter-final) and Kilkenny (All-Ireland semi-final).

There is a welcome return to the Waterford team for the ageless Tony Browne who has not played competitively since last year's All-Ireland semi-final loss to eventual champions Kilkenny. Browne, who turns 37 next month, has been named at right half-back.

This will be the Mount Sion clubman's 54th Championship outing for Waterford - he made his debut back in 1992, in a Munster quarter-final against Clare in Thurles.

Liam Lawlor has been given the nod to start at full-back, edging out Declan Prendergast and Mark O'Brien. It will be the Fourmilewater clubman's first Championship start.

Elsewhere, Jamie Nagle has shaken off a hamstring injury to take over from Aidan Kearney at left half-back, with Shane O'Sullivan and Richie Foley pairing up in midfield.

The Waterford side will be captained by 2007 All-Star Stephen Molumphy who has the returning Dan Shanahan and Kevin Moran for company in the half-forward line.

Davy Fitzgerald's bench includes established names like Kearney, the Prendergast brothers, Seamus and Declan, and Ken McGrath.

Previewing the game in his Irish Daily Star column, the Waterford manager described the feelings he has experienced in plotting the downfall of his native county.

"Monday's match is one I don't want and it's the first time in 20 years I can recall not looking forward to being involved in the Munster Championship," he explained.

"It'll certainly be the first time in my life that I'll be hoping Clare lose a game and I'm finding it a very difficult situation to be in. But I have to make sure my personal feelings don't come into it.

"I am in charge of Waterford and this is an obstacle we have to get over so that we can get into a Munster final. The people of Clare know how passionate I am about my county that when I do any job, I try to do it right.

"I have fierce affection for the players in Waterford because of the way they have conducted themselves since I started managing them. They are a thrill to work with," added former goalkeeper Fitzgerald, who was part of the Clare senior panel between 1990 and 2007 - winning two All-Irelands, three Munster titles and three All-Star awards along the way.

WATERFORD (SHC v Clare): C Hennessy; E Murphy, L Lawlor, N Connors; T Browne, M Walsh, J Nagle; R Foley, S O'Sullivan; D Shanahan, K Moran, S Molumphy (capt); J Mullane, E Kelly, M Shanahan.