There was good news for Peter Canavan with the results of tests on his ankle indicating that he should be fit to play in the All-Ireland final at the end of next month. The Tyrone captain injured himself less than 15 minutes into Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final win over Kerry.
"It was ligament damage," according to county PRO Brendan Harkin. "This week the ankle will be immobilised in a plaster cast. After that, we'll be hoping for the best but we're reasonably optimistic. It would be easy to put out a scare story but we're hopeful. For Peter's sake we want to see him playing. It would be totally devastating for him to miss the final." This will come as a great relief to the county.
Although, as Sunday proved, the team has progressed well beyond heavy dependence on their captain, his presence will benefit both morale and the team's scoring power - as well as giving manager Mickey Harte a selection headache given the good form of former All Star Stephen O'Neill who replaced Canavan.
Tyrone's players will return to their clubs before returning to county training next week.
Meanwhile, there are no unexpected injury problems for either camp ahead of next weekend's All-Ireland semi-final between Donegal and Armagh. Both sides hope to name their teams tonight for the match to decide who'll complete the first All-Ireland final between two counties from the same province.
All-Ireland champions Armagh have a full pick. "We've no problems," according to manager Joe Kernan. "The lads had club matches the week after the Laois match and there were the usual nicks and bruises but nothing serious, thank God." The champions didn't attend the Kerry-Tyrone match at the weekend because they were away on a weekend break.
Kernan declined to mention the location beyond confirming that it had been in Ireland. "Not even I'd try and take them away seven days before an All-Ireland semi-final," said Kernan.
Sunday will be the county's fourth All-Ireland semi-final in five years, a record of consistency that puts them just behind Kerry in recent championships, as the Munster champions' semi-final last Sunday was their seventh in eight years.
Donegal will still be missing James Ruane who is still injured and Noel McGinley is likely to be out because of a suspension imposed after being sent off in club match.
The suspension is up for appeal at Ulster Council this week but there is little optimism in the camp that the ban will be overturned in time for McGinley to take his place on the bench this Sunday.
