Tipperary ponder on Maloney

Tipperary, due to announce their team for Sunday's All-Ireland quarter-final tie against Galway this evening, have received a boost with the return of Andy Maloney.

After a strong league, the Cahir attacker's season was interrupted by a nasty facial injury he acquired 53 minutes into the league semi-final victory over Limerick.

Yet to make his championship debut, Maloney demonstrated his versatility over the spring months, operating at centre and wing-forward for the first few games before slotting into a midfield role alongside Eddie Enright for the concluding game against Waterford. He averaged a point from play in those games prior to his lay off.

Nicky English is still concerned about the pace of recovery of Declan Ryan, who now seems in danger of missing Sunday's quarterfinal. The Clonoulty forward, who won All-Ireland medals with Tipperary in 1989 and 1991, was forced to miss last month's Munster final against Cork.

He has been troubled with a leg injury which he picked up during Tipperary's victory over Clare. Ryan contributed 1-1 in that match prior to his 48th minute departure.

If he fails to make the line-up, it is anticipated that Eddie Enright will again take his place. It remains to be seen if the selectors will show faith with Paddy O'Brien, who had a rough day against Cork, or opt for Liam Cahill, who replaced him at corner forward in the 23rd minute.

Dual star Declan Browne has rejoined the panel. Although he has displayed lethal goal-poaching abilities at intermediate and under-age level, it is unlikely that the young Moyle Rovers man will break into an attack which has blended well since the championship began. His most recent big-time hurling involvement ended in disappointment when he drove a late goal chance astray in the dying minutes of last year's All-Ireland under-21 semi-final against Galway.

Meanwhile, Offaly, have welcomed 1998 All-Ireland winning captain Hubert Rigney back into the fold after a prolonged lay-off with injury. While Rigney offers defensive cover to Pat Fleury, it is unlikely that he will feature on Sunday against unfancied Derry in the first quarter-final.

Offaly's main injury worry concerns current All Star John Troy. The mercurial Lusmagh attacker has been hampered with a series of injuries throughout the Leinster championship and while he is training, he may not have the requisite level of fitness.

Gerald McCarthy was last night unanimously reappointed as manager of the Waterford Senior Hurling team for the coming year at a specially convened county board meeting in Dungarvan. Board chairman Paddy Joe Ryan informed delegates that McCarthy was the only person who had been interviewed for the position. McCarthy resigned as manager at the end of his two-year term of office following Waterford's defeat by Tipperary in the Munster championship back in May.