Browne given extra time

Team News: Tony Browne has been named in the Waterford team for Sunday's Munster hurling final against Cork in Thurles, although he will give his injured ankle a final test on the morning of the match before deciding to line-out.

While the injury, which occurred early in the semi-final win over Limerick, has been slow to heal - and has prohibited Browne from any training since - manager Justin McCarthy is intent on giving his midfielder and captain every chance of playing a role from the start. The word in Waterford is that the player, too, is intent on starting.

The team named last night shows just one change in personnel from that which started in the semi-final replay with Limerick on June 7th, although there are the usual plethora of positional switches. Eoin McGrath returns to the starting line-up in place of Peter Queally in a move that was, in fact, made for the final 10 minutes of the Limerick game.

McGrath has been named in the half forward line alongside Ken McGrath and Paul Flynn. Queally was named at wing back the last day, but played at midfield.

Among the many positional switches is the wing back and corner back swap between James Murray and Eoin Murphy, as well as the placing of Eoin Kelly, who played at centre forward the last day, at midfield.

Despite all the moving around, all but three of the team started in last year's historic Munster final win over Tipperary. The players missing are Queally and fellow defender Brian Flannery, as well as wing forward Seamus Prendergast. The newcomers are Declan Prendergast, Dave Bennett and Andy Moloney, who is named at full forward and formerly played with Tipperary.

Waterford's desire to switch players around contrasts directly with that of opponents Cork, who named the same 15 players in exactly the same positions as they started against Clare in their semi-final win.

In football, it is now certain that Cavan will play the rest of their season without the services of their captain and centre back Peter Reilly. He has become the latest in a series of players to fall victim to the dreaded cruciate knee ligament injury, which he suffered during round one qualifier win over Louth.

Filling his centre back place for the round two qualifier against Fermanagh in Enniskillen is the equally experienced Anthony Forde, who played on the wing against Louth.

Jason O'Reilly is also recalled to the starting line-up despite his lack of fitness because of recent injury, and will play at right corner forward.

A vacancy has been left in the other corner forward position as manager Mattie Kerrigan keeps his options open to closer to Sunday as several more players are carrying minor injuries.

It has been confirmed, meanwhile, that Down have lodged an official objection against Fermanagh's win in Sunday's Ulster minor football semi-final at Clones.

While Fermanagh pulled off a surprise win, it is alleged they played at least two minutes with an extra player on the field late in the game after some confusion over the use of a blood substitute.

Forfeiture of the game appears unlikely, although if sufficient evidence can be found then the game may be replayed.

WATERFORD (SH v Cork): S Brenner; B Greene, T Feeney, J Murray; E Murphy, F Hartley, D Prendergast; T Browne, E Kelly; E McGrath, K McGrath, P Flynn; J Mullane, A Moloney, D Bennet.

KERRY (SH v Limerick): J Healy; T Cronin, A Healy, I Brick; C Harris, C Flaherty, A Cronin; P Cronin, J McCarthy; L Boyle, B Brick, P O'Connell; JM Dooley, S Brick, M Slattery.

CAVAN (SF v Fermanagh): A Donohoe; C Collins, T Prior, J Jordan; P Brady, A Forde, M McKeever; P McKenna, P Brady; S Brady, L Reilly, F O'Reilly; J O'Reilly, D McCabe, AN Other.