Waterford's dual stars Gary Hurney and Shane Walsh are to concentrate on hurling this year.
Waterford's dual stars Gary Hurney and Shane Walsh are to concentrate on hurling this year.
Both players were part of the football squad that lost to Cork in the Munster championship last term and they also lined out for the Deise hurlers in the All-Ireland SHC quarter-final against July.
Rather than continue playing both sports the pair have decided to concentrate soley on hurling in 2007 and Waterford hurling boss John Owens believes they are right to have made the decision early.
"The boys are playing with the hurlers now and that’s as far as it is. We wish them well in the hurling," Owens told the Irish Examiner.
"I think they’ve made their minds up that that’s what they want to go playing and in ways it’s helpful that we know that because it sets us up for the next while with the boys we have.
"Gary and Shane are great footballers, they’re two Munster Railway Cup men actually so they’re hard to lose. But we have lost them and we’ll just have to get on with it now."
Meanwhile, Owens will have to plan without Liam O Lionain for a number of weeks as the forward is struggling with a leg injury.
"Liam O Lionain is our major worry at the moment with a leg injury. He’s certainly a big player for us but he’s working through it and is taking his time with it and looking after himself very well," Owens went on.
"He’ll be a big bonus when he comes back. But the new lads in to our attack like Conor McGrath, Michael Donnelly and JJ Hutchinson have all improved our team scoring-wise, but more importantly they are working very hard as well.
"Robert Ahearne is doing very well also, he’s a big lad and can cause problems at full-forward and midfield."