TEAM NEWS:KILDARE ARE confident veteran midfielder Dermot Earley will have recovered sufficiently from the hamstring injury sustained last weekend against Monaghan to take the field against Meath in Sunday's All-Ireland quarter-final at Croke Park.
Earley’s availability is seen as crucial against the Leinster champions and despite being replaced last Saturday after 57 minutes in the round-four qualifier the injury is not considered a hamstring tear.
Ken Donnelly is the other concern for manager Kieran McGeeney but the versatile forward has already confounded expert medical opinion by featuring in recent weeks despite ruptured knee ligaments. Donnelly is expected to play some part against Meath, who report a clean bill of health.
Tyrone manager Mickey Harte is due to make a decision tonight on Tommy McGuigan, who has postponed a knee operation until after the championship, but former footballer of the year Stephen O’Neill is expected to return to a star-studded forward line that faces a much-changed Dublin side from what they destroyed in 2008 at the same juncture of the campaign.
“We will guide Tommy along and see how the injury develops,” said Harte. “I have always believed that playing Dublin in Croke Park is as close an experience as a team can get to playing in an All-Ireland final. This Saturday will be no different.”
Tyrone, like Kildare, Meath, Cork, Kerry and Down will release their sides tonight, while Dublin hold off until tomorrow but manager Pat Gilroy is expected to name the same side that beat Louth.
Ahead of Roscommon’s meeting with Cork on Sunday, manager Fergal O’Donnell has remained loyal to the 15 that surprised Sligo with a fine performance to clinch the Connacht title on July 18th. That means goalkeeper Geoffrey Claffey (knee) and centre forward David O’Gara (back) came through training this week without complaint.
Kevin Higgins, Colm Garvey, Jonathan Dunning and Paul Garvey were all used to good effect as replacements in the provincial final.
Roscommon last reached an All-Ireland quarter-final in 2003 when they were beaten 1-21 to 3-10 by Kerry.
Meath referee David Coldrick will take charge of Dublin’s meeting with Tyrone on Saturday. Joe McQuillan from Cavan will referee the earlier game at Croke Park between All-Ireland champions Kerry and Down.
Another Meath official, Cormac Reilly, will referee Cork versus Roscommon on Sunday while Sligo’s Marty Duffy will adjudicate for Kildare against Meath.
Finally, Tipperary hurler Eoin Kelly will contest the annual GAA Poc Fada competition in the Annaverna Mountain, Ravensdale, this Saturday. Kilkenny goalkeeper James McGarry will also compete.
Defending champion Gerry Fallon faces some stiff competition from the reigning provincial Poc Fada champions Ruairí Convery (Ulster), Eoin Reilly (Leinster), Séamus Coffey (Munster) and James Skehill (Connacht).
ROSCOMMON (SFC v Cork):G Claffey; S McDermott, P Domican (captain), S Ormsby; S Purcell, C Dineen, D Casey; M Finneran, K Mannion; D Keenan, D OGara, C Cregg; J Rogers, D Shine, G Heneghan.
Poc Fada Men's Competition:Ruairí Convery (Derry), Eoin Reilly (Laois), Séamus Coffey (Cork), James Skehill (Galway), James McGarry (Kilkenny), Eoin Kelly (Tipperary), Graham Clarke (Down), Karol Keating (Down), Brendan McNamara (Clare), Donal O'Brien (Mayo), Neil Hackett (Meath).
Women's Competition:Patricia Jackman (Waterford), Stephanie Gannon (Galway), Voureen Quigley (Louth), Jacqui O'Connor (Wexford) and Fionnuala Carr (Down), Bernie Murray (Armagh), Catriona Cantwell (Louth).
