Casey in training:Roscommon captain David Casey has recovered from the serious knee injury that threatened to end his career, and he hopes to make a return to the county colours next month.
Defender Casey, one of the county's most consistent players in recent seasons, was laid low for the winter and there were fears he would never play football again. But manager John Maughan has confirmed that Casey is back in training and he could even play a part in the second round of the National Football League against London.
"David thought he might never play football again. He had a very serious knee complaint, but thankfully he's back training, and training hard," said Maughan.
Cork ease through
Holders Cork eased into a McGrath Cup final against Limerick at Pairc Uí Rinn on Sunday with a comfortable 3-22 to 0-4 victory over UL in a one-sided semi-final at the same venue last night.
CORK:P O'Shea; M Prout, D Coughlan, O Sexton; N O'Leary (0-1), G Spillane (1-1), E Cadogan; P O'Neill (0-1), D Kavanagh (0-1); S O'Brien (0-1),N Murphy, K McMahon (0-5); K O'Sullivan (1-2), A Cronin (0-2), D O'Connor (1-6 3f). Subs: B Collins (0-1)for O'Brien, S O'Sullivan for Murphy, S Levis for Spillane, V Hurley (0-1)for Cronin, G McCarthy for O'Connor.
UL:B Egan; K Harrington, M Moloney, C O'Mahony; L Doyle, S McGearailt, F Coffey; A O'Sullivan, S O'Shea; P Byrne, C Keane, captain, D Moran; C McGowan (0-1),F Lynch, J Buckley (0-3f). Subs:C Dillon for Byrne, P Ruane for O'Shea, G Sunderland for Doyle, D Geaney for O'Sullivan, P Kennerk for Ruane
Referee: A Mangan(Kerry)
Kelly let go
Stephen Kelly has been officially let go from the Limerick senior football panel by team manager Mickey O'Sullivan. Kelly failed to show for the McGrath Cup victory against Tipperary on January 14th and O'Sullivan said afterwards that Kelly hadn't been training with the panel in the week leading up to the fixture.
Kelly met members of team management and a player delegation last week and it has been agreed he cannot give the required time and commitment to the Limerick cause and will no longer be considered for selection.
Kelly has forged a promising rugby career with All-Ireland League club Shannon and he is also a member of the Newcastle West soccer team who have reached the last 16 of the FAI Junior Cup.
Meanwhile, O'Sullivan will assess the fitness of Jason Stokes and Seán Cronin before he considers a starting line-up for next Sunday's McGrath Cup final. Stokes and Cronin picked up hamstring injuries in Sunday's victory against UCC and will be assessed at training tonight.
Morrison takes over
John Morrison is back in management following the abrupt termination of his Mayo partnership with Mickey Moran. But the colourful Armagh man has departed the intercounty scene in favour of a club post. Morrison will operate in Tyrone this season, where he has taken over the reins of senior club Clonoe O'Rahillys.
He has been handed the task of reviving the fortunes of one of the county's most famous outfits, which has seen a decline in fortunes in recent seasons.
Clonoe are not currently in the top division, but their Division One B status means they will still compete in the senior championship in 2007.
All Star changes
The enforced withdrawal of Kerry footballers Colm Cooper and Kieran Donaghy from the Vodafone GAA All Stars tour to Dubai which begins today has led to Derry's Paddy Bradley and Cork's James Masters, who were nominated for All Star awards in both 2005 and 2006, being called up to the touring party.
Cooper cannot travel because of his involvement in the All-Ireland club football quarter-final with Dr Crokes next Sunday while Donaghy's basketball team Tralee Tigers has qualified for the weekend's national final.
Other players called up as replacements last week include Seán O'Sullivan (Kerry), Alan Quirke (Cork), Shane Ryan (Dublin) and Brian Kavanagh (Longford). The All Stars of 2005 will play the 2006 selection in the Dubai Polo Grounds next Saturday.
FOOTBALL ALL STARS 2005:Paul Hearty (Armagh); Ryan McMenamin (Tyrone), Michael McCarthy (Kerry), Andy Mallon (Armagh); Graham Canty (Cork), Conor Gormley (Tyrone), Aaron Kernan (Armagh); Paul McGrane (Armagh), Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone); Brian Dooher (Tyrone), Peter Canavan (Tyrone), Owen Mulligan (Tyrone); Paddy Bradley (Derry), Stephen O'Neill (Tyrone), Steven McDonnell (Armagh).
FOOTBALL ALL STARS 2006:Alan Quirke (Cork); Barry Owens (Fermanagh), Karl Lacey (Donegal), Seamus Moynihan (Kerry); Ger Spillane (Cork), Aidan O'Mahony (Kerry), Shane Ryan (Dublin); Nicholas Murphy (Cork), Sean O'Sullivan (Kerry); Alan Brogan (Dublin), Alan Dillon (Mayo), Conor Mortimer (Mayo); James Masters (Cork), Ross Munnelly (Laois), Brian Kavanagh (Longford).
Ticket sales soar
The GAA have confirmed that over 60,000 tickets have been issued for the meeting of Dublin and Tyrone on the opening weekend of the National Football League at Croke Park on Saturday, February 3rd.
The remaining tickets are currently on sale through the normal county board and club sources in the participating counties, from the GAA Website, through Ticketmaster Outlets Nationwide and in the Croke Park area from McCaughey's Shop on Clonliffe Road, Benny's in Emmet Street and the Skylon Hotel.
