More news in brief.

Wexford without Rossiter for quarter-final date

JOHN MEYLER has abandoned all hope of being able to call on ace full back Keith Rossiter for Wexford's All-Ireland hurling quarter-final date on Sunday week.

Rossiter was a late withdrawal from the Leinster final against Kilkenny last Sunday week after failing to recover from a groin injury.

But now it transpires that Rossiter's problem is much more serious than the player and the Wexford backroom team considered it to be in the first place.

"Unfortunately, Keith has no chance of making the quarter-final," said Wexford manager Meyler. "His injury is much more deep-rooted than we originally thought, and he's going to be out for a good while longer. The priority is to get the injury sorted out as soon as possible, and with this mind, Keith is going to have a scan this Thursday.

Meyler will also be without wing back Ciarán Kenny, midfielder MJ Furlong, and forward Stephen Nolan, who all missed the Leinster final defeat to Kilkenny. Waterford boss wary of Offaly

WATERFORD MANAGER Davy Fitzgerald has insisted he wanted to avoid Offaly in next weekend's final round of All-Ireland senior hurling championship qualifiers.

The former Clare goalkeeper was hugely impressed by Offaly's 10-point demolition of last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists Limerick last Saturday evening.

And he rejected the suggestion that Offaly are a soft draw, insisting: "We would have preferred to avoid Offaly. Their form against Limerick was incredible but I've known Offaly a long time and I never came across a team that didn't tackle, battle and hurl. Look at how they performed last Sunday. Of the two teams we could have got, Offaly showed a lot better form than Cork."

Fitzgerald will welcome back centre forward Séamus Prendergast from a shoulder injury for the Offaly tie but defender Aidan Kearney will miss out again after undergoing surgery on his appendix recently.

"The Limerick game will stand to Offaly and will be a huge advantage to them," added Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald denies overcrowding claim 

MUNSTER COUNCIL secretary Pat Fitzgerald has strongly denied claims that the City End terrace was too full for last Sunday's Munster senior hurling final at the Gaelic Grounds.

Some Tipperary supporters situated at the City End of the Limerick venue complained of severe discomfort and also reported fighting among some spectators, as well as heavy alcohol consumption.

A fracas which broke out on the terrace before the senior decider was captured on TV and many fans situated on the City End have vowed never to stand on a terrace again.

A Limerick steward on duty at the game claimed: "I would estimate that there were 2,000 too many on the terrace."

"I never saw a terrace as packed. I was physically interfered with by people who were trying to muscle their way up the terrace but there was no room there."

However, Fitzgerald insisted that the terrace was not filled to capacity. "People's tickets were scanned on entry so they were double-checked. The terrace was not filled to capacity and the figures speak for themselves. There were some areas with quite an amount of space but some people would not move to allow others in.

O'Rourke in line for Meath comeback

SHANE O'ROURKE is expected to make his long-awaited return to the Meath attack in Saturday's All-Ireland football qualifier against Limerick.

The Simonstown Gaels clubman made an impressive return from injury to the team when he scored 0-9 in a challenge match against Laois in Rathcoffey, Co Kildare last week. On the minus side, Anthony Moyles misses out after he damaged his a/c joint in the same game and Kevin Reilly is suspended.

Admission prices to first round football qualifier matches on Saturday next are as follows: Stand €20, Terrace €15, Senior Citizens/Students (with I.D.) €10, Children Under 16 Free (when accompanied by an adult). The Louth v Tyrone game in Drogheda however is an all-ticket game.

Tipperary decide not to appeal result

TIPPERARY will not be appealing the result of last Sunday's Munster minor hurling final despite claims that Cork's 17th point should not have stood.

Ciaran Sheehan's 57th-minute effort appeared to drift a foot wide of the near upright at the Clare End, looking directly across from the Mackey Stand. However, the umpire waved the white flag and despite drawing level soon after, All-Ireland champions Tipp lost the game by just a single point, 0-19 to 0-18.

However, county board Chairman John Costigan congratulated Cork and said: "In Tipperary, we don't look back and these things happen."

Writers' award for Joyce

HOT ON the heels of his man-of-the-match display in Sunday's Connacht final, Galway star Pádraic Joyce has been named as Connacht GAA Writers Personality of the Month - for last month.

The Killererin man has been selected as the June winner for his excellent performance in the county's victory over Leitrim in the Connacht semi-final, when he scored 1-4 and was heavily involved in creating the scores that sealed Galway's win.