Gaelic Games/Hurling: Humphrey Kelleher has been removed from his position as Dublin hurling manager after a downward spiral of 12 consecutive defeats that culminated in a disappointing opening championship loss to Laois last Sunday in Nowlan Park.
Although hampered by mass defections this season, Kelleher must be the fall-guy for failing to engineer a single victory throughout the Division One National League campaign.
Following a meeting between Kelleher and the Dublin management committee last night, the following statement was released: "We would like to thank Humphrey for his time, dedication and enthusiasm he brought to the position during what is a very difficult time for Dublin hurling. But we feel we have been forced into taking this action in order to arrest the current slide in the senior hurling team's fortunes and to hopefully protect our status among the Tier One counties who are participating for the Liam McCarthy Cup. An interim management team will be appointed prior to a resumption of squad training next week."
Meanwhile, Westmeath begin the defence of their Leinster title against Kildare on Sunday in relatively good health with 12 of the side that played in last year's drawn and subsequent replayed provincial final against Laois.
David Glennon, brother of Denis, will make a first championship start at corner forward with Alan Mangan moving out to wing forward. Patrick Mulvihill is the other debutant at left wing forward. The arrival of these two young forwards is expected to paper over the cracks caused by Martin Flanagan and John Brennan recently opting out.
The absentees from 2004 are Donal O'Donoghue, Brian Morley and Gary Dolan. O'Donoghue is back on the bench after missing the last few months because of exams and his full-back spot will be filled by regular centre back Damian Healy while Derek Heavin moves in from wing back with David Kilmartin coming into the starting line-up.
Morley left the panel because of work commitments at the start of the season. Gary Dolan is recovering from two operations on his ankle and knee but is back in the panel, as is Paul Conway.
Tipperary have retained nine of the footballers who lost to Limerick in their only championship outing last year. The team forfeited the first-round qualifier against Fermanagh owing to an internal row over dual players.
London have just four of last year's championship line-up back again for the visit of Roscommon to Ruislip on Sunday. They are captain Johnny Niblock, full-back Damien McKenna, Paddy Quinn from Tyrone and former Wexford intercounty footballer Scott Doran.
Monaghan have given up getting Rory Woods back on the playing field for either club or county before his suspension reaches its conclusion on July 17th. The central appeals committee (CAC) decided the GAC did not wrongly apply any rule in handing down the 12-week suspension after Woods was sent off in the National League Division Two semi-final against Derry on April 24th.
Monaghan officials claimed the GAC failed to take video evidence into proper consideration but the CAC under the chairmanship of John Greene backed up the ban at Wednesday's hearing.
WESTMEATH (SF v Kildare): G Connaughton; J Davitt, D Healy, J Keane; M Ennis, D Heavin, D Kilmartin; R O'Connell, D O'Shaugnessy; A Mangan, F Wilson, P Mulvihill; David Glennon, Denis Glennon, D Dolan (capt).
TIPPERARY (SF v Kerry): P Fitzgerald; D Byrne, N Curran, P King; P Morrissey, B Lacey, R Costigan; K Mulryan, F O'Callaghan; G Burke, L England, P Cahill; B Hickey, D Browne (capt), B Mulvihill.
LONDON (SF v Roscommon): P O'Dowd; P Callaghan, D McKenna, J Rafter; J Niblock (capt), J McKevitt, P McGonigle; E Brennan, S Hehir; P Quirke, P Hehir, P Quinn; B Solan, S McInerney, S Doran.
