CRUCIATE FEAR FOR MOLUMPHY.

Byline: JACKIE CAHILL

WATERFORD have suffered another crushing injury blow with fears growing joint captain Stephen Molumphy has suffered cruciate knee ligament damage.

Indications from the Deise camp are that the team's other skipper, Ken McGrath, will do well to return by mid-August but if Molumphy's worst fears are realised, he will miss the remainder of the season.

McGrath underwent surgery on a cartilage problem last week and faces at least another six weeks on the sidelines.

Team medics are waiting for the swelling on Molumphy's knee to go down before he can be properly assessed. The versatile Ballyduff clubman is hoping to undergo an MRI scan today or tomorrow before being assessed by specialist Tadhg O'Sullivan.

Molumphy was forced out of last Saturday's Munster semi-final replay at half-time and manager Davy Fitzgerald is now facing up to the prospect of being without both of his joint captains for the July 12 showdown with Tipperary.

Fitzgerald said: "We're not 100 per cent sure about Stephen. We have to wait for the swelling to go down but, of course, we're worried about it."

Kevin Moran is also facing a race against time to be fit for the Semple Stadium final.

CAPTION(S):

CROCKED Molumphy is now a doubt for the Munster final