GAELIC GAMES:WATERFORD'S DAUNTING task of raising themselves from the heavy Munster hurling final defeat to Tipperary for Sunday's AllIreland quarter-final against Galway hasn't been made any easier by an injury scare to forward Maurice Shanahan.
Shanahan sustained a hamstring injury in the 21-point drubbing in Páirc Uí Chaoimh last Sunday week, and hasn’t trained since, leaving him doubtful for an already difficult task in Thurles against a Galway team gathering momentum again after qualifier wins over Clare and Cork.
Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald summoned his team for a 9am training session in Dungarvan on the morning after the Tipperary defeat, and will announce what is expected to be a considerably changed team after training tomorrow evening.
Waterford football manager John Owens has indicated a desire to stay in charge of the county team for another year, despite the loss to Munster rivals Limerick on Saturday evening.
The Down native and former Tipperary player and manager has been in charge for two seasons, but reckons he has the enthusiasm and backing of the players to go on for a third year.
Tyrone’s Stephen O’Neill is set to miss their All-Ireland third-round qualifier against Armagh on Saturday, with a hamstring injury. O’Neill already missed the second-round win over Longford and hasn’t shaken off the injury for the Omagh fixture, which will be an all-ticket game. His absence comes after Owen Mulligan opted out of the Tyrone panel last week due to lack of competitive action.
Mulligan, however, looks set to return to the county panel after the Cookstown Father Rocks clubman had a meeting with Mickey Harte.
More good news for the Tyrone manager is that Kevin Hughes and Martin Swift are expected to be available for the Healy Park game after both missed out against Longford. Tyrone have won two of their three All-Ireland titles via the qualifiers.
Limerick football manager Maurice Horan has declared dual stars Stephen Lucey and Mark O’Riordan are no longer part of his panel, and therefore won’t be considered for Saturday’s qualifier against Wexford. Lucey and O’Riordan have been unavailable to Horan due to hurling commitments, but the manager has now ended any further speculation about their dual status.
Wexford star David Murphy has admitted he’s unsure about his participation in Saturday’s game.
The Model County’s captain and centre back picked up a back injury playing for his club St Mary’s (Rosslare) against Liam Mellows (Coolgreany) in an intermediate hurling match last week.
Murphy confirmed he was unable to take part in Wexford training last Sunday morning and he won’t train tonight either.
A decision will be taken on his fitness on Thursday evening prior to manager Jason Ryan’s official team announcement.
“It’s not great to be honest,” said Murphy. “I got a knee in the base of the back playing a hurling match last Thursday night. I didn’t train on Sunday and I won’t train on Tuesday. I’m in a fair bit of pain.
“I don’t know about Saturday but I’d be hopeful of taking some part. I’ll put it like this – if the match was on tomorrow night, I wouldn’t be playing.”
Upcoming fixtures
Saturday
All-Ireland SFC Round Three Qualifier– Tyrone v Armagh, Omagh, 7pm.
All-Ireland SFC Round Four Qualifier– Wexford v Limerick, Portlaoise, 7pm; Cork v Down, Croke Park, 6pm (TV3); Derry v Kildare, Croke Park, 4pm.
All-Ireland MHC Quarter-finals– Antrim v Galway, Parnell Park, 3pm; Waterford v Kilkenny, Walsh Park, 7pm.
Sunday
All-Ireland SHC Quarter-finals– Dublin v Limerick, Thurles, 2pm (TV3); Waterford v Galway, Thurles, 4pm (RTÉ 2).
July 30th/31st/August 1st/7th
(venues and dates TBC)
All-Ireland SFC Round Four Qualifier– Roscommon v Tyrone/Armagh.
All-Ireland SFC Quarter-finals– Dublin v fourth round winner (except Wexford); Donegal v fourth round winner (except Derry); Mayo v fourth round winner (except Roscommon); Kerry v fourth round winner (except Cork).
