Cullinane returns to action

Tony Browne has been declared fit but remains on the bench as Sean Cullinane makes his first appearance for Waterford since last…

Tony Browne has been declared fit but remains on the bench as Sean Cullinane makes his first appearance for Waterford since last year's Munster championship.

Browne underwent a full physical session in Fennor earlier this week and came through with no problems. Despite an expectation that he might start for the county for the first time this season, he is listed among the replacements.

Rejuvenated after their notable win against Wexford in Walsh Park, Gerald McCarthy's team see Sunday's top-of-the table clash against Kilkenny as an opportunity to build up some consistency - an element which eluded them last year.

Dan Shanahan, instrumental in Waterford's victory against Wexford after being introduced as a substitute, has - somewhat surprisingly - again been confined to the bench while Brian Flannery reappears at half back. Stephen Curley and James Murray lose out.

READ MORE

McCarthy has maintained the impressive midfield axis of Peter Queally and Johnny Brenner and there is much speculation about where the manager will ultimately deploy Browne. Such is his versatility that Browne could be accommodated at half back or half forward. Tallow's Brian Henley retains his place after an impressive debut against Wexford.

Kilkenny manager Brian Cody has kept faith with the novel looking defensive lines used for the county's opening league games, with a number of All-Star names listed for the bench.

The team, however, shows four changes to that which started against Laois. Kevin Power gets his opportunity at wing forward and Brian McEvoy also returns on the other wing. Eamon Kennedy has been named at centre halfback and Charlie Carter, who was introduced as a substitute during the team's win over Laois, starts at corner forward. DJ Carey is still out, however, suffering from a persistent shoulder injury.

Ger Loughnane and his selectors have opted for a new-look Clare team for their match against Antrim in Casement Park on Saturday. Frank Lohan moves across to fill the full-back berth generally held by his brother Brian while the entire half-back line of Richie Woods, John Reddan and Enda Flannery is new. Ronan O'Hara and Fergus Flynn again form the midfield partnership while Colin Lynch has been listed at centre-half forward.

Dublin manager Michael O'Grady has named the same side that defeated Kerry as they prepare for a difficult game against Galway. While wing back Liam Walsh was thought to be doubtful, he is deemed fit enough to return to a defence that conceded three goals against Kerry.

Clare (SH v Antrim): D Fitzgerald; G Malone, F Lohan, B Forde; R Woods, J Reddan, E Flannery; R O'Hara, F Flynn; F Hegarty, C Lynch, F Touhy; K Ralph, C Clancy, N Gilligan.

Dublin (SH v Galway): B McLoughlin; J Finnegan, S Power, D McCormack; L Walsh, S Perkins, L O'Donoghue; M Fitzsimons, D McInerney; D Henry, C Brady, S Ryan; T McGrane, S Duignan, K Flynn. Waterford (SH v Kilkenny): B Landers; S Cullinane, J O'Connor, T Feeney; S Frampton, F Hartley, B Flannery; J Brenner, P Queally; B Henley, K McGrath, B Walsh; D Bennett, A Kirwin, P Flynn. Subs: S Brenner, J Murray, S Curley, D Shanahan, P Fitzgerald, S Prendergast, B O'Sullivan.

Kilkenny (SH v Waterford): J McGarry; J Butler, S Meally, N Hickey; R Moore, E Kennedy, P Barry; A Comerford, P Mullally; K Power, S Grehan, B McEvoy; H Shefflin, K O'Shea, C Carter. Subs: M Carey, M Kavanagh, P O'Neill, J O'Neill, JP Corcoran, J Power, N Maloney, J Phelan.

Keith Duggan

Keith Duggan

Keith Duggan is Washington Correspondent of The Irish Times