Cautious hopes are being raised in Waterford that Tony Browne's dispute with the team management can be defused. The 1998 All Star and Players' Hurler of the Year has been absent from the county team for the two most recent matches after allegedly missing a team meeting on the weekend of the National Hurling League match in Cork.
Team manager Gerald McCarthy and his selectors refused to be drawn on the matter. "We've no comment to make on the situation," said McCarthy. Sources close to the team believe, however, that the situation will be resolved before the team to play Tipperary in the league is named next week.
Named on the side to face Cork on March 26th, Browne arrived at the match but was did not play - reportedly because of a recurrence of a groin injury. Since then he has not trained with the team and was not named in the side which went on to hammer Laois at the weekend.
Waterford's championship panel will be finalised after the league campaign concludes on Sunday week, when the county faces Tipperary in the last regulation match - unless Waterford, last year's finalists manage to qualify for the semi-finals.
McCarthy has had some success with Waterford over the last two years but hasn't hesitated to swing the axe for disciplinary reasons. Dan Shanahan and Sean Daly were dropped for attending a point-to-point meeting instead of training. More controversially, goalkeeper Ray Barry was dropped before the 1997 championship meeting with Limerick and goalkeeping errors contributed to the defeat. Last season Brian Greene was dropped for a couple of matches, also on disciplinary grounds.
Meanwhile Cork footballers have named an unchanged side for Sunday's National Football League quarter-final with Derry at Croke Park. The team which saw off Dublin in Pairc Ui Rinn was changed by three substitutions before the end but Podsie O'Mahony, Aidan Dorgan and Liam Honohan are all named in the starting line-up.
This means a vote of confidence for dual star Sean O hAilpin who played well at full back on Dessie Farrell.
Opponents Derry will not announce their team until tonight. Henry Downey's long-term absence continues as he recovers from a groin operation while his brother Seamus who made a comeback for Derry's last regulation match of the league against Laois is out again with a broken jaw picked up in that match.
Dermot Dougan also misses out because of suspension after getting sent off in the Laois match.
All six of the remaining quarterfinalists leave their team announcements until tonight or tomorrow. Leinster champions Kildare have injury worries ahead of the weekend's big clash with Dublin at Croke Park. Midfielder Willie McCreery and All Star corner back Brian Lacey are both considered likely to miss the match whereas decisions have to be made about other players who have either picked up knocks or who are recovering from them.
Of primary concern is captain Glen Ryan, who hasn't played for the best part of two months. Within the camp it is considered "probable" that he will play. Dermot Earley didn't play for Leinster in the weekend's Railway Cup and is doubtful as is Padraig Gravin but goalkeeper Christy Byrne and John Finn are expected to be fit.
Dublin also delay selection but will be in a position to welcome back Paul Curran who missed the last match because of work commitments. His colleague on the other wing of the defence, Paul Croft is out pending a suspension which could keep him out for three months depending on tomorrow's GAC meeting in Croke Park. Jim Gavin, who has missed recent matches because of a hand injury, is expected to be available for consideration.
Meath, who face Kerry, have familiar problems with Tommy Dowd definitely out. Having returned after a lengthy lay-off, the 1996 All-Ireland winning captain broke a bone in his ankle. Better news comes in the form of improved prospects for midfielder John McDermott and full back Darren Fay.
McDermott came back ahead of schedule and played for his club Skryne at the weekend. Fay lined out for Leinster in the Railway Cup.
Armagh wait until tomorrow to name a side to face Sligo and may delay selection even longer in order to give top scorer Diarmuid Marsden as much time as possible to recover. Goalkeeper Benny Tierney is also doubtful after a groin strain forced his withdrawal from last Saturday's league victory over Leitrim.
Joe Reynolds was last night named as the new Leitrim football manager. The school teacher from Eslin, Mohill, succeeds Peter McGinnity, who stepped down last month.
Reynolds won an All-Ireland Under-21 football title with Leitrim in 1977. He was a selector of the senior team for three years, from 1993 to 1995, during which Leitrim won the Connacht title, in 1994, with John O'Mahony as manager. Reynolds is also a former manager of the Leitrim Under-21 team.
CORK (SF v Derry): K O'Dwyer; M O'Donovan, S O hAilpin, A Lynch; C O'Sullivan, O Sexton, M Cronin; Michael O'Sullivan, L Honohan; A Dorgan, J Kavanagh, P O'Mahony; P Clifford, Mark O'Sullivan, A O'Regan.
