Browne back to bolster Waterford

Gaelic Games Team newsTony Browne is back in the Waterford team for Sunday's Munster hurling final in Thurles. The experienced Mount Sion player was unable to start in the semi-final win over Tipperary because of a hamstring injury, but with time that has sufficiently recovered. Browne takes his place at left-half back for the eagerly-awaited clash with champions Cork.

The player to miss out is Brian Wall, who is a little unlucky having performed so impressively against Tipperary. Yet manager Justin McCarthy is clearly intent on sending out as many players as possible with unquestionable experience, something Browne has in abundance.

As is now McCarthy's customary practice, the team named last night also shows several players in different positions from where they operated the last day - and chances are they will resume positions with the throw-in.

James Murray, for example, is named at full back, although he played at right-corner back against Tipperary. Similarly, Eoin McGrath is listed to partner Dave Bennett at midfield, whereas Eoin Kelly played there the last day.

The forward line hasn't escaped the shuffle either, with Paul Flynn moved from wing forward to corner forward, and Dan Shanahan surprisingly named at centre forward - although he is likely to start on one of the wings.

Ken McGrath and his brother Eoin, who had been carrying minor injuries since the Tipperary game, are as expected fit enough to start.

While Browne's re-introduction is the only change from the Tipperary game, the Waterford team does show four changes from that which lined out in last year's final. Gone are Tom Feeney, Brian Greene, Fergal Hartley and Andy Moloney, with Brian Phelan, Michael Walsh, Seamus Prendergast and Shanahan the newcomers.

In football news, meanwhile, David Mitchell is named in the Westmeath starting line-up for their Leinster semi-final against Wexford at Croke Park. Mitchell missed all of last summer after breaking a leg in the latter stages of the league, but has gradually regained all his old form, and is thus rewarded with a place at left-half forward.

He had appeared as a substitute after 31 minutes in the memorable quarter-final win over Dublin, where his influence throughout the second half helped unsettle the favourites. After collecting an early second-half point in the 0-14 to 0-12 win, Mitchell continually feasted on Dublin's uncertainty.

The player he replaced the last day, Fergal Wilson, is the one who makes way.

Otherwise manager Páidí Ó Sé has kept faith with the same team, with just some slight positional alterations.

With Mitchell starting in the half-forward line, Alan Mangan moves to right-corner forward. With Rory O'Connell again ruled out by suspension, Gary Dolan will continue to partner team captain David O'Shaughnessy at midfield. Not surprisingly, the defence remains unchanged.

It will be later today before the Clare hurlers finalise their starting line-up for tomorrow's All-Ireland qualifier against Laois, the curtain raiser to the Tipperary-Limerick clash at the Gaelic Grounds.

Manager Anthony Daly is undecided about the fitness of several players, including James O'Connor and Brian Lohan.

Laois welcome back dual player Darren Rooney, who sat out last Saturday's qualifier against Westmeath because of the football outing against Meath the following day. Rooney replaces Ian Delaney at left-corner back, while Cyril Cuddy moves from left-half forward to right-corner back in place of Liam Mahon. Canice Coonan comes into the half-forward line. Damien Walsh gets a start at centre forward ahead of Pat Mahon.

Elsewhere, Down will be without injured captain Simon Wilson for their qualifier against Galway at Ballycran - which now has a 3.30 throw-in. Wilson's place at right-corner back will be taken by Paddy Hughes.

WATERFORD (SH v Cork): S Brenner; E Murphy, J Murray, D Prendergast; B Phelan, K McGrath, T Browne; D Bennett, E McGrath; E Kelly, D Shanahan, M Walsh; J Mullane, S Prendergast, P Flynn.

WESTMEATH (SF v Wexford): G Connaughton; J Devitt, D O'Donoghue, J Keane; M Ennis, D Healy, D Heavin; G Dolan, D O'Shaughnessy; B Morley, P Conway, D Mitchell; A Mangan, D Glennon, D Dolan.

LAOIS (SH v Clare): K Galvin; C Cuddy, P Cuddy, D Rooney; J Fitzpatrick, L Tynan, M McEvoy; J Young, J Walsh; E Browne, D Walsh, C Coonan; T Fitzgerald, D Cuddy, D Culleton.

DOWN (SH v Galway): G Clarke; P Hughes, S Murray, E Dorrian; T Clarke, G Savage, G Clarke; G Adair, A Savage; G McGrattan, J Convery, B McCourty; M Coulter, G Johnson, G Clarke.