Waterford stick with winners

Waterford have named the same team which defeated Tipperary last month for Sunday's Munster final clash against Clare in Thurles. They have reported an injury-free panel and, according to manager Gerald McCarthy, have no illusions as to the potential difficulties they face.

"Naturally, we're on a high at the moment. It's always tremendously exciting preparing for a Munster final but we know that we are up against it in many respects," he said.

"I mean, Clare are the All-Ireland champions and have established themselves as the dominant team in recent years."

McCarthy appreciates that, come Sunday, his team will be standing on the same threshold from which Clare shattered tradition three summers ago.

"That's right. I mean teams like Offaly and then Clare making the breakthrough has been really inspiring to hurlers in Waterford. They needed to see that it was possible to make that breakthrough against the old powers.

"That's why our win over Tipperary was of such vital psychological importance to ourselves and the supporters here."

McCarthy speaks fondly of that June Sunday in Cork when his side raged against a tired Tipperary side in the final 20 minutes, exorcising years of self-doubt and the last vestige of the Munster hierarchy.

"The emotion that day was incredible, as I think the reaction of the fans illustrated. Apart from anything else, it meant that as well as qualifying for the Munster final, we were guaranteed a game in the All-Ireland series."

But Waterford are wholly uninterested in the idea of performing admirably in Thurles and settling for the consolation of the "backdoor" avenue to the semi-finals.

"Absolutely not," McCarthy said. "It's something that hasn't been discussed, simply isn't an issue.

"We are approaching this Munster final in precisely the same way as counties always have: with a view to winning. Waterford would dearly love a Munster title."

Their last came in 1963 but neighbouring counties have noted a slow and inexorable progression throughout this decade. Waterford were the coming team.

"When I came here, I immediately saw that there was no shortage of good hurlers," McCarthy said. "But ability was coupled with an element of indiscipline, you know. We tended to concede scoreable frees and play ourselves into trouble and those are the weaknesses I have concentrated on more than any."

Their win against Tipperary and their strong showing in the League highlights a new-found self-belief, a quality perhaps developed by the fact that, as a Cork hurler, McCarthy was bred to succeed.

But he is reluctant to stress his role in that element of their metamorphosis.

"Maybe having someone who has been through the wringer, so to speak, and has the experience can be a help but belief is something that comes gradually and mostly through the players' own work and determination."

Clare's astonishing rise was founded on the steely, stubborn mindset introduced by Ger Loughnane through force of personality alone. Can Waterford match Clare's undisputed stomach for the critical minutes?

"As I said, it will be extremely tough and we know that we are going to have to produce an absolutely wonderful performance to take Clare. As with most Munster finals, this should be a hard and physical old game and we are ready for that."

Football fans are reminded that the Leinster semi-final between Kildare and Laois has been postponed from Sunday to July 19th.

The GAA felt that a fixture at Croke Park on the same day as the first stage of the Tour de France takes over the capital would be too problematic.

Waterford (SH v Clare): B Landers; T Feeney, S Cullinane, B Flannery; S Frampton, F Hartley, B Greene;T Browne, P Queally; D Shanahan, K McGrath, D Bennett; B O'Sullivan, A Kirwan, P Flynn.