Cork set to ask for tie to be postponed

The Cork County Board have until noon today to confirm their intentions regarding the National leagues. A scheduled meeting of board delegates and officers took place last night, in camera, and included a briefing on the recent talks involving Labour Relations Committee chairman Kieran Mulvey, and his efforts to resolve the long-running players' strike.

Although those talks broke down, it is hoped they can resume this weekend, and Cork will therefore request that Saturday's opening Football League Division Two game against Meath be postponed a week, which Croke Park officials are prepared to accommodate.

Dublin, meanwhile, are more than ready to start their Division Two league campaign, against Westmeath at Parnell Park on Saturday evening, and manager Paul Caffrey last night named a familiar looking team.

Shane Ryan is fit again and resumes at midfield alongside newcomer Eamonn Fennell, while the full-forward line of Jason Sherlock, Conal Keaney and Mark Vaughan is particularly strong. Team captain Alan Brogan is not named in the starting 15, while Stephen O'Shaughnessy, Philip McMahon and John O'Brien are rewarded for their good form of late with starting places.

Midfielder Darren Magee looks set to miss most of the league campaign, having recently undergone groin surgery which will require six to eight weeks' rest. It was also confirmed yesterday that Dublin's O'Byrne Cup final against Longford has been fixed for Friday week (7pm) in Parnell Park.

Galway football begins a new era on Sunday under the guidance of Liam Sammon, but also with a five-year sponsorship deal with Aer Arann, who have taken over from Tommy Varden Catering Equipment as the main sponsor to the county's senior, under-21 and minor sides.

Galway will be without midfielder Barry Cullinane for their opening Division One game, against Laois, as he has broken a thumb.

Tyrone will be without some key players, including Brian Dooher, Seán Cavanagh and Joe McMahon, for their opening game against Kildare. while Mickey McGee has suffered a setback.

DUBLIN (SF v Westmeath): S Cluxton; D Henry, N O'Shea, S O'Shaughnessy; P McMahon, P Casey, C Moran; E Fennell, S Ryan; B Cullen, J O'Brien, B Brogan; J Sherlock, C Keaney, M Vaughan.

LONGFORD (SF v Wexford): D Sheridan; D Brady, D Masterson, P McDonnell; S Mulligan, A O'Connor, N Farrell; L Keenan, E Farrell; D Farrell, P Barden, P Dowd; S Philips, B Kavanagh, F McGee.