Heavin dropped but Dolan to start

GAELIC GAMES/Championship 2007 News round-up: Westmeath wing back Derek Heavin has experienced the wrath of Tomás Ó Flatharta by being dropped for Sunday's opening Leinster football championship match against Longford.

The veteran defender has been punished for breaking Ó Flatharta's rule of no player lining out for their club a week before a county game - Heavin played for Castledaly in a league tie against Mullingar Shamrocks on Sunday.

The rule was already tested and upheld earlier this season when Peter Tormey was dropped during the National League. Kevin Gavin from, ironically, Mullingar Shamrocks, makes his debut at left-wing back in place of Heavin.

A notable inclusion in the Westmeath line-up for the trip to the redeveloped Pearse Park is captain Dessie Dolan who has recovered from a shoulder injury to line out at centre forward.

Midfielder Martin Flanagan starts his first championship match since 2003 and he will be partnered by David O'Shaughnessy, who has recovered from injury.

Meanwhile, GAA president Nickey Brennan hasn't ruled out the Ulster football final being held in Croke Park for the fourth consecutive year, despite a fixture clash with the Leinster equivalent on July 15th.

Since 2004, Armagh have contested three finals in Dublin against Donegal (twice) and Tyrone, in what has become a popular mid-summer journey south for Ulster GAA fans.

"I'd love to see the Ulster final having the opportunity to play (in Croke Park). We would certainly make every effort to do that. But in order to accommodate that it may mean Ulster have some re-jigging of their schedule.

"Instead of going for nine weekends maybe go for eight weekends. If they do that and help out we can certainly do it."

It has also been revealed Brennan informed the poorly attended intercounty manager's meeting last Tuesday in Croke Park that teams should be released to the GAA for match programmes and the media no later than the Wednesday before a game. As there is no rule on this matter, it is unlikely that every county management team will agree to the request.

Dublin football manager Paul Caffrey confirmed yesterday midfielder Darren Magee did not sustain a fractured jaw playing for Kilmacud Crokes in last week's Dublin championship victory over St Sylvester's. "He's a lucky boy now. He was with our medical team and he got X-rayed the following morning. I'm glad to report there is no break. Jaw injury, yeah, but a few weeks on the mend with no contact (is required)."

Magee is expected to be available for the championship opener against Meath or Kildare on June 3rd - the same can be said for injured duo Bernard Brogan and Kevin Bonner, although Magee's brother Jonny remains a concern because of a groin injury.

The Tyrone camp is not so fortunate with manager Mickey Harte ruling out Stephen O'Neill and Martin Penrose ahead of Sunday week's clash with Fermanagh.

Owen Mulligan, Raymond Mulgrew, Joe McMahon, Kevin Hughes and Mickey McGee also remain on the doubtful list.

Finally, yesterday the 2007 Vhi Cúl Camps programme was launched in Croke Park. The camp is a nationally co-ordinated programme that encourages children between seven and 13 to learn and develop sporting and life-skills by participating in Gaelic games in a non-competitive environment.

WESTMEATH (SF v Longford): G Connaughton; F Boyle, D O'Donoghue, J Keane; D Healy, M Ennis, K Gavin; M Flanagan, D O'Shaughnessy; F Wilson, D Dolan, J Smyth; A Mangan, P Bannon, D Glennon.

CAVAN (SF v Down): J Reilly; P Brady, E Reilly, M Cahill; M Hannon, A Forde, R Flanagan; D McCabe, L Mulvey; R Cullivan, M McKeever, L Reilly; S Johnston, G Pierson, J O'Reilly.

DOWN (SF v Cavan): M McVeigh; D McCartan, D Rooney, K McGuigan; R Murtagh, B Grant, J Clarke; D Gordan, J Lynch; J McGovern, A Carr, R Sexton; D Hughes, P Downey, B Coulter.

ANTRIM (SH v London): R McGarry; M Kettle, M McCambridge, S Delargy; N McAuley, J Campbell, C Herron; B Herron, K McKeegan; K Stewart, B Delargy, M Herron; J McIntosh, K Kelly, P Shields.