Meath are still considering their team selection for next Saturday's Leinster football final following the sending off of two members of their full back line, Mark O'Reilly and Darren Fay, in the semi-final second replay against Kildare. A decision on their strategy is not expected until later in the week, but a number of options are being considered.

The full back position is giving the Meath selectors most cause for concern. Fay's dismissal against Kildare has caused a considerable dilemma, but there is some consolation in the fact that there are three players in the squad who could do an adequate job. Enda McManus has played in that position before and won an All-Ireland medal there, while the versatile and ever-reliable Martin O'Connell would not be out of place there either. There is also some suggestion that John McDermott could find himself in the number three jersey.

Another plus for Meath is that two of the players who figured in the Kildare match in the attack can be drawn back into defensive roles without upsetting the overall balance of the team. They are Colm Coyle and Nigel Nestor - both experienced defenders.

The selectors could then draft two Jody Devine, PJ Gillic or Evan Kelly into the attack.

It is highly unlikely that the Meath mentors will risk taking McDermott away from his midfield spot, while it is also well known that McManus is not altogether happy at full back, which suggests that Martin O'Connell is the most likely for the job.

The only other matters of interest as far as Meath supporters are concerned is that fears about the fitness of Tommy Dowd and Trevor Giles have been dismissed. Both have been nursing knocks, but have made good progress.

On the hurling front, Wexford and Tipperary are expected to name their teams tonight for Sunday's second All-Ireland semi-final.

Wexford have only one problem as they prepare for the match. Gary Laffan suffered an ankle injury in training and he has been on crutches for the past couple of days. The ankle is heavily strapped and the crutches are regarded as a precaution, but the chances of him playing seem to be slight.

That would provide the Wexford selectors with a problem. They could always draft in Billy Byrne, but there has been some doubt about his fitness, too, and his greatest contribution to the team these days is, surely, as a late replacement with 20 or 15 minutes to go.

One option open to the selectors would be to recall Eamon Scallan to the side with a consequent reshuffle of the attack. For the moment, hopes are still being entertained that Laffan may regain full fitness in time to take his place. In that case, Wexford would field the team which beat Kilkenny in the Leinster final.

Tipperary have, more or less , resigned themselves to the fact that Conor Gleeson will not be fit to play. He has a broken bone in his left hand, an injury suffered in a club match. On the credit side, hopes are high that George Frend can be called into the side. A loss of form cost him his place earlier in the year, but his form for his club, Toomevara, has been encouraging and he could be drafted in without causing much of an upset.

Also playing well at present are Raymie Ryan, Conal Bonner and Liam Sheedy. Bonner was picked to play at wing back in the quarterfinal against Down in Clones, but dropped out with injury before that match. The Tipperary selectors are fortunate in that they have several players of sufficient ability and versatility to cope with any eventuality which Gleeson's absence might throw up.

The match seems to be attracting more excitement among supporters in Wexford than in Tipperary. The latter group were pretty downhearted following their defeat by Clare in the Munster final, but the enthusiasm which last year's All-Ireland win generated in Wexford has continued unabated and their supporters are determined that they will have another September day out.

The former Wexford county board chairman, now chairman of the Leinster Council, Jim Berry, believes that a final between Clare and Wexford is what most neutral hurling followers would prefer.

"Clare's performance against Kilkenny was refreshing. They have a fine team and will be very difficult to beat," he says. "They were awesome at times. Their defence was marvellous and although they had a bad patch in the third quarter of the match, they lifted their game again towards the end.

"It has been a brilliant year for hurling and I believe that we will have more of the same before the year is out. The victories of Clare and Wexford have given new life to the game and the new National League format is working well. It might need a little bit of fine tuning, but I believe we can get it right."

In Clare, hopes are high that Fergus Tuohy, who missed the match against Kilkenny with an ankle injury, will be back in full training within 10 days or so. He could have played in an emergency on Sunday, but it was decided that it might represent too much of a risk. The man drafted into the attack in his place, Niall Gilligan, had a fine match and will make a strong bid to retain his place for the final.