Fitzy to give Deise stars a rest

Waterford hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald is preparing to rest up to six of his most established players for at least half of the forthcoming National Hurling League programme.

In a bid to allow them to repair their bodies from the rigours of intense involvement in recent years, Fitzgerald will not be calling on a hard core of players who have spearheaded the county's ascendancy through the last decade.

Tony Browne, Dan Shanahan, Ken McGrath, Eoin Murphy, Seamus Prendergast and John Mullane will not be asked to return to training until at least the middle of March.

That will preclude them from the games against Dublin, Galway, Limerick and probably Cork which will be played on the weekend on Sunday 21 March.

Fitzgerald is confident that Browne and Shanahan, Waterford's two former hurlers of the year, will not retire as has been speculated.

Speaking to the Irish Independent, Fitzgerald said: 'They are all on individual programmes at the moment under the guidance of Ger Hartmann, including the two lads (Browne and Shanahan)," explained Fitzgerald.

'It's a gamble we're probably taking leaving them out for so long. But we need to manage them as well as we can, get the best out of them at the right time of the season.

'Tony Browne has done it for the last few years and it has served him very well. If everyone came back the way Tony does, well we wouldn't have any problems.'

McGrath has been plagued with injuries and missed most of last year with a knee problem. Stephen Molumphy could also miss the opening couple of games as he is not due back until mid-February as he continues his latest tour of duty with the armed forces.

'We'll be without seven key players and I accept that's a lot but it won't diminish our effort in the league whatsoever. We'll be working hard for as many good results as we can get,' added the Clare native.