DUBLIN HAVE made the unusual decision to delay until Friday naming their team to face Meath in Sunday’s Leinster football semi-final in Croke Park. Manager Pat Gilroy is reportedly waiting on a fitness update on centre back Cian O’Sullivan, who lasted just five minutes of the quarter-final win over Wexford last Sunday week, but clearly there are several more tough selection calls given Dublin’s poor performance overall that day.
O’Sullivan will undergo an MRI scan on his injured hamstring tomorrow evening, after which Gilroy will make a call on his centre back position. Ger Brennan replaced O’Sullivan against Wexford, although Bryan Cullen looks the more likely replacement – having impressed that bit more, when Dublin eventually came to grips with Wexford.
Denis Bastic is ruled out after the straight red card he received against Wexford, but there are bound to be several more switches. Alan Brogan, Tomás Quinn, Michael McAuley and Eoghan O’Gara are all strong contenders for starting positions this time after helping turn the game in Dublin’s favour the last day.
Meath manager Eamon O’Brien has selection issues of his own, although not all in a bad way. First-choice goalkeeper Paddy O’Rourke is definitely ruled out for the red card he received in the quarter-final replay win over Laois last Saturday evening, but replacement Brendan Murphy has considerable experience, and started against Dublin three years ago.
Centre back Michael Burke is unfortunately out for the rest of the season after breaking his shin bone in two places in an accidental clash shortly before half-time. But Cormac McGuinness is now close to full fitness after his injury problems. Mark Ward is another doubt at midfield with the ankle injury he sustained against Laois, although Conor Gillespie is the obvious replacement there, despite his relative inexperience.
However, it still appears unlikely team captain Nigel Crawford will start due to the back injury that has kept him out of the championship participation so far.
“He is making progress but we’ll have to assess him during the week,” said O’Brien. “We would like to think he will be ready for Dublin but there’s no guarantee on that. Anthony Moyles has a hamstring as well, so we had to take him off at half-time.”
What is certain is that whoever loses on Sunday goes into the draw for the second round for the All-Ireland qualifiers, which in a new move, will take place live next Monday on TV3 during the Ireland AM programme. That’s because of the late throw-in of 5.50pm for the second Leinster semi-final in Croke Park involving Westmeath against Louth.
In hurling, Galway had welcome news yesterday in that the hand injury sustained by forward Joe Canning in last Sunday’s Leinster semi-final draw against Offaly won’t keep him out of Saturday’s replay, which has a 7pm start in Portlaoise. There were fears Canning may have broken a bone, but instead suffered nothing worse than bruising.
Midfielder David Burke and wing-forward Damien Hayes are carrying shoulder and knee injuries respectively, but should be fine, and forward Andy Smith’s return from suspension gives manager John McIntyre another option up front. Offaly are without the suspended Daniel Currams and injured forward Derek Molloy.
Meanwhile Kerry’s preparation for the Munster final with Limerick received a boost last night with the return of Aidan OMahony to training.
