Dunhill’s Shane Casey has been named in the Waterford team to face Galway in this Sunday’s All-Ireland Senior Hurling Quarter-Final at Semple Stadium.
Casey, one of the heroes of the Deise’s Munster Under-21 semi-final win over Tipperary , is the only change from the side which started the Munster Final.
He replaces Jack Kennedy, who stepped down from the panel last week after his first half substitution during the defeat to Tipperary.
It means there’s still no starting place for former Hurler of the Year Dan Shanahan, who once again must make do with a start from the bench.
Casey is named at top of the left on the inside line, with Eoin Kelly drafted into full-forward. Captain Stephen Molumphy has been switched to a wing-forward’s berth, with Seamus Prendergast listed to start from centre-forward.
Noel Connors, who picked up an injury during training last weekend, has thankfully recovered in time to retain his position at left corner back.
Silly mistakes
“We just have to beat the teams that are put in front of us and concentrate on our own game,” said Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald.
“I think we know those silly mistakes – not taking scoring opportunities and not working hard enough – cost us in the Munster final against Tipperary.”
He added: “I don’t think that Tipperary are much better than us and from now on, it doesn’t matter who we get because you have to beat them all to win an All-Ireland title and that’s the way we have to prepare for it.
“We’ll see on Sunday how the lads go with that.”
While most pundits are tipping Galway to win in Thurles, history favours the men in white and blue.
In eight previous Hurling Championship encounters between the two counties (1938, 1948, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998 and 2006), Waterford have emerged victorious in each meeting.
A ninth win over the Tribesmen would see the Deise through to an All-Ireland semi-final against holders Kilkenny. Extra time shall be played in the event of a draw after 70 minutes.
Waterford: Clinton Hennessy; Eoin Murphy, Declan Prendergast, Noel Connors; Tony Browne, Michael Walsh, Aidan Kearney; Kevin Moran, Shane O’Sullivan; Jamie Nagle, Seamus Prendergast, Stephen Molumphy (C); John Mullane, Eoin Kelly, Shane Casey.
Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork)
