REPORTS THAT Derry’s former All Star forward Paddy Bradley had withdrawn from the county panel days before the All-Ireland qualifier against Monaghan were last night strenuously denied, as the team management and players issued the following statement insisting that the player had not left: “Derry senior football team management and players wish to end unsubstantiated rumours escalating in the media that Paddy Bradley has left the Derry senior football panel. Such rumours are totally unfounded and without substance.
“Paddy Bradley completed a full training session with the team on Sunday morning and will resume training on Tuesday night. We trust this terminates any speculation escalating in the public domain, and that management and players are enabled to concentrate on their sole focus of the qualifier game taking place on Saturday.”
The story emerged yesterday that Bradley had told manager Damian Cassidy after training on Sunday that he wanted to leave the panel. Neither player nor manager was available yesterday for comment but one highly-placed source in the county confirmed the story but expressed confidence that the Glenullin forward would change his mind before Saturday.
“No one’s saying anything about this at the moment because we believe he could be back. Paddy had a couple of issues but there was no animosity between him and the manager. I would be 90 per cent optimistic that he will be back.”
In the disappointing Ulster semi-final defeat by Tyrone, Bradley was subdued but had played well during the first-round Ulster championship defeat of Saturday’s opponents Monaghan.
Another player who it is hoped will be available for his county panel is Dublin corner back Rory O’Carroll. Reports yesterday indicated the Kilmacud Crokes corner back is due to go travelling this summer and would not be taking further part in the county’s season.
O’Carroll, who made his debut at corner back in the overwhelming defeat of Westmeath, is due to line out for the county’s under-21 hurlers before departing.
According to the Dublin footballers’ spokesperson Ciarán McCarney, the matter isn’t yet settled. “I haven’t been speaking to Pat (Gilroy, Dublin manager) yet today, but I heard that Rory was to go away on a trip but just for a couple of weeks. I am not aware that he has left the panel.
“There will be a full update on this at Wednesday’s media conference to announce the team for the Leinster final.”
Losing O’Carroll would be a blow for the team, as the young defender impressed in his club’s march to the All-Ireland club title earlier this year.
He was brought in as an option after Alan Hubbard, who played most of the league at corner back, had struggled in the opening round win over Meath.
Although O’Carroll was steady enough in the semi-final mauling of Westmeath, his opposing corner forward, John Connellan, kicked four points from play. But Gilroy and his management wouldn’t like to lose a promising player at this stage of the season.
Finally, Wexford have been hit before Saturday’s All-Ireland hurling qualifier against Limerick by the news that full forward Stephen Banville has been diagnosed with glandular fever.
Manager Colm Bonnar believes the debilitating condition could help to explain Banville’s below-par performance against Dublin in the Leinster semi-final.
Goals in either half from the Shelmaliers player saw Wexford past Offaly in the previous round, but he was taken off with 16 minutes remaining after contributing just a point against Dublin.
If Banville is advised by doctors to take a complete break from hurling, he could even be ruled out for a number of months.
Bonnar admitted: “He literally hasn’t done a tap since coming off against Dublin in the second half. His energy levels are poor and we don’t know what to do with him.
“He’s off work for the week and whether he can play in a do-or-die game at Wexford Park, we don’t know.”
Banville received news of his condition last Sunday and this is the latest blow to affect an injury-ravaged Wexford camp.
Stephen Nolan has also been ruled out after learning that his Gilmore’s groin injury will need further attention before it can be resolved.
Andrew Shore’s leg is in plaster, while Bonnar also revealed that Tomás Waters is unlikely to even make the match-day panel because of medial knee ligament damage.
Colm Farrell, Eoin Quigley and Barry Lambert are already out with long-term injuries, but there is some good news for Bonnar with Oulart-the-Ballagh pair Keith Rossiter and Darren Stamp training freely.
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