Munster Express Online

Speculation is rife that Davy Fitzgerald is set to hand Clashmore teenager Brian O’Halloran his first senior championship start in Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final assignment against Tipperary

The 19-year-old student broke his duck as a second-half sub in the Munster final replay against Cork and scored a smart point with his first touch (to spur Waterford’s revival after Ben O’Connor’s fluke goal) before making way in extra-time.

The Waterford management have yet to announce the team to the media (even though it would have been sent to Croke Park already for the match programme) but informed conjecture suggests they will utilise O’Halloran’s searing pace to pose problems for a Tipp full-back line that looked decidedly shaky at times in the quarter-final against Galway.

A Tony Forristal Tournament star five years ago, O’Halloran has been an outstanding dual player at underage level (he was the county’s young footballer of the year in 2009). Indeed, he captained his club to a first Minor A Football Championship last summer before helping the Waterford minor hurlers to the Munster title, beating Tipperary in the final in Thurles.

Now he could fill the illustrious boots of some of Waterford’s most famous names, including Dan and Ken – the ultimate impact subs – who along with the likes of Seamus Prendergast and Eoin McGrath would leave massive match-winning potential on the bench.

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