INJURY NEWS:THE THREE teams most notably hindered by injury concerns ahead of next weekend's championship matches appear to be the Limerick and Tyrone footballers and Galway hurlers.
Galway are without free-takers and All-Star forwards Joe Canning (hamstring) and Ger Farragher (knee) for their Leinster quarter-final against Westmeath in Mullingar on Saturday, although both men could yet be named amongst the replacements.
Iarla Tannian and Alan Kerins are also unavailable.
Limerick host Kerry at the Gaelic Grounds, also on Saturday evening, in a repeat of last season’s Munster football final but they must do so without the hugely influential midfield presence of John Galvin (knee – out for the entire campaign), while Stephen Lucey pulled up with a grade two hamstring strain for the Limerick hurlers against Galway last weekend.
Another dual player, Mark O’Riordan, is also a concern due to a chest problem.
Ulster champions Tyrone begin their defence against Monaghan in Omagh on Sunday without the two McMahon brothers, Justin (hamstring) and Joe (fractured jaw). The versatile brothers are both back in training but neither is fit to play a part in what is also a repeat of last season’s provincial decider, which Tyrone won comfortably.
“Without a doubt, (Monaghan) will be looking for redemption. The final score didn’t reflect the pattern of the game, because up until half-time, Monaghan were very much in that game,” said manager Mickey Harte.
“Only for two good saves from Pascal McConnell, we could have been in a very different place at half-time.
“But we survived that, and then we played very good football in the second half.
“Over the 70 minutes, it didn’t reflect the closeness of the game. So we would be very conscious that we’re meeting a decent team, who have got a new manager, and maybe a new lease of life, and who have played their football at a higher level than we did this year.”
Tommy McGuigan missed the entire National League campaign with a knee problem and is unlikely to feature, while there is a more recent concern about Philip Jordan after the veteran wing back sustained a dead leg in a recent club match.
“If we continue to prepare the way we’re doing, then we have a good chance of moving through one round at least,” said Harte.
“There’s a good atmosphere within the camp. The players know that the championship is a special time of the year, and they know that the longer that you stay in the Ulster Championship, the better it is.”
