Waterford signal their intention

TEAM NEWS: Any question of Waterford starting the National Hurling League final without the full intention of winning it was answered last night. Manager Justin McCarthy has named his strongest line-up to play Galway at the Gaelic Grounds, while also awaiting until closer to Sunday to confirm the full-back line.

The left-corner back position has for now been left vacant, with Eoin Murphy almost certain to come in alongside James Murray and Tom Feeney should he recover from a minor virus. Declan Prendergast, who completed the full-back line in the last round against Tipperary, is the other main contender to start.

Murphy had been returning from a broken finger when the illness struck, and it is understood McCarthy also had him in mind for the championship match against Clare seven days later. It is thought Murphy might better cope with the pace of the Galway forwards.

There are no changes in personnel from the team that drew with Tipperary last Sunday week. Positional switches don't mean much when McCarthy is involved but captain Ken McGrath has been named at centre back, although he is likely to start on the wing, while the full-forward line reads John Mullane, Dan Shanahan and Paul Flynn.

The GAA yesterday confirmed no replay date, if necessary, has yet been set. With Sunday week ruled out it seems likely May 23rd would be targeted. Should Waterford beat Clare on Sunday week they play again on June 6th in the Munster semi-final against Tipperary.

All-Ireland football champions Tyrone have, as expected, left a vacancy in their forward line for Sunday's Ulster championship opener against Derry. Doubts still surround the fitness of Owen Mulligan after his involvement in a minor car accident at the weekend, and if he doesn't fill the vacancy in the half-forward line it's likely Stephen O'Neill will.

O'Neill missed the two-game semi-final with Galway and is also thought to be a little short on fitness. Gerard Cavlan was ruled out of a starting place for the match in Clones with a hamstring injury, while Colin Holmes has been called in to partner Seán Cavanagh at midfield.

Two players will make their championship debuts - Brendan Donnelly at right-half back and corner forward Colm McCullagh. Mark Harte, son of manager Mickey Harte, will make his first championship start.

It's possible only of 10 of the team that started in Croke Park last September will hit the field on Sunday. Missing will be former captain Peter Canavan, midfielder Kevin Hughes, the late Cormac McAnallen, as well as Cavlan and Mulligan, should the latter fail to start.

Back in hurling, Division Two finalists Down and Westmeath, who have a 2.15 p.m. start at the Gaelic Grounds, have also named their line-ups. Down show two changes from their last league outing, with Mick Braniff and John Convery coming into the forward line, while Westmeath are unchanged from the team that beat Wicklow in the Leinster championship last Sunday. The winners will replace Offaly in top flight league hurling next season.

WATERFORD (SH v Galway): S Brenner; J Murray, T Feeney, AN Other; T Browne, K McGrath, B Phelan; A Moloney, M Walsh; E Kelly, S Prendergast, D Bennett; J Mullane, D Shanahan, P Flynn.

TYRONE (SF v Derry): J Devine; R McMenamin, C Gormley, C Gourley; B Donnelly, G Devlin, P Jordan; C Holmes, S Cavanagh; B Dooher, B McGuigan, AN Other; M Harte, E McGinley, C McCullagh.

WESTMEATH (SH v Down): M Briody, D Curley, B Murtagh, P Greville, D Gallagher, C Murtagh, D McCormack, P Williams, O Devine, R Whelan, V Bateman, A Mitchell; D Carty, J Shaw, B Kennedy.

DOWN (SH v Westmeath): Graham Clarke; L Clarke, S Murray, E Dorrian; S Wilson, G Savage, Gabriel Clarke; A Savage, G Adair; G McGrattan, P Braniff, B McGourty; J Convery, G Johnson, M Braniff.