Eoin still confident of safe Passage despite missing jet-setter Connors

EOIN KELLY is optimistic that Passage’s strength in depth will help the Waterford champions cope with the huge loss of Noel Connors in tomorrow’s Munster club SHC semi-final against Limerick’s Na Piarsaigh. After helping Passage lift their first senior hurling county title four weeks ago, Waterford regular Connors embarked on a three-month overseas trip, ruling him out of the Gaelic Grounds clash. ‘I think that Noel is in China at the moment, and then he’s going on to Australia,’ said former county ace Kelly (below) on the absent centre back. ‘Obviously, we’d prefer if he was available for the Na Piarsaigh match, and he’s going to be a big loss to us. But still we have a strong panel, and we have a lot of very versatile players, so there are plenty of options.’ Passage will also be unable to call on forward Liam Flynn, who damaged knee ligaments in a challenge match against RowerInistioge last week. After a dramatic late win over Ballygunner in the Waterford final — they battled from seven points down with just seven minutes left to win — former Mount Sion player Kelly believes Passage, whom he moved to in 2006, are now in bonus territory. ‘The way we look at it now is that one competition has finished for us and another competition is about to begin,’ said Kelly, who admitted he does not know much about tomorrow’s opponents. ‘With the exception of their county players, I’d be in the dark about Na Piarsaigh,’ he said. ‘But [Passage manager] Peter Queally was at their match against LoughmoreCastleiney, and he’ll have us well versed about their various strengths and weaknesses.’

PADDY HICKEY