Kearney and Moran get Deise call
Aidan Kearney and Kevin Moran have been drafted into the Waterford team for Sunday's All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi-final against Tipperary at Croke Park (throw-in 3.30pm).
Defender Kearney was not expected to start the game having only recently recovered from an appendix operation that kept him out for two months. He resumed training just two weeks ago.
However, Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald obviously feels the Tallow clubman is up to speed already and he is set to start his first game of the 2008 championship.
Fitzgerald has made two changes to the team that accounted for Wexford last time.
Both switches are in the half-back line with Kearney and Moran coming in for Shane O'Sullivan and Brian Phelan.
Moran replaced Phelan early on in the second half of the quarter-final win over Wexford.
Phelan only regained his starting place for the Wexford game, having edged Jack Kennedy out for selection.
Meanwhile, Deise fans can breathe a sigh of relief that experienced Tony Browne is fit to continue at centre-back. He has shrugged off a hamstring strain.
Waterford, who beat Antrim, Offaly and Wexford in recent outings, are seeking to qualify for their first All-Ireland final since 1963.
They last met Tipperary in the championship two years ago when they won a quarter-final encounter by 1-22 to 3-13.
Fitzgerald and his selectors will look for further scoring inspiration from All-Star elect Eoin Kelly, who has scored 5-24 (1-17f, 0-02 '65') so far this summer.
John Mullane, with 2-15 to his name, has also been in a rich vein of form.
WATERFORD (SHC v Tipperary) - C Hennessy; E Murphy, K McGrath, D Prendergast; A Kearney, T Browne, K Moran; M Walsh (capt), J Nagle, D Shanahan, S Prendergast, S Molumphy; E McGrath, E Kelly, J Mullane.
