Dooher injury a further blow to Tyrone hopes

Championship 2006 news: Despite incorrect reports emanating form Tyrone in recent days, it has been confirmed that Brian Dooher joins Brian McGuigan on the long-term-injury list that has hit the All-Ireland champions' title defence.

Dooher cracked a kneecap in an accidental collision with a team-mate during training two weeks ago. Six weeks is the expected recovery time for the Tyrone captain but such an injury could well rule him out of the entire championship.

"Initial tests showed Brian was okay and he was among the substitutes against Louth but it has subsequently been revealed that he has a cracked kneecap. That's six weeks," explained Tyrone PRO Brendan Harkin yesterday.

Manager Mickey Harte must now attempt to retain the Sam Maguire Cup despite the loss of Dooher, McGuigan and the retired Peter Canavan. The 2005 player of the year, Stephen O'Neill, is also ruled out of Saturday's first-round qualifier replay against Louth in Omagh with a persistent hamstring problem.

Ger Cavlan seemed a decent replacement for McGuigan at centre forward, having been a member of the 2003 All-Ireland-winning side, but he too is absent with a groin strain. Joe McMahon is another not considered for selection, while Kevin Hughes is serving a four-week suspension.

Colm McCullagh has been drafted back into the panel after a season of soccer with Newry City. Considering McCullagh is match fit and has been playing club football with Dromore, he is expected to be in the starting line-up announced this evening.

Ryan McMenamin retains the captaincy in Dooher's absence.

Meanwhile, the Derry County Board have requested a personal hearing from the Central Disciplinary Committee for Enda Muldoon, who was sent off in last Sunday's Ulster football semi-final against Donegal.

Television replays caught Muldoon retaliating after Donegal full back Paddy Campbell appeared to hit him in the groin. Video evidence will not exonerate Muldoon, as he is clearly seen to strike Campbell, but it may lead to the minimum four-week ban and, in turn, to sanctions against Campbell.

Leitrim are the only team yet to play championship football this season but that will be addressed on Sunday when they face Mayo in Carrick-on-Shannon for a place in the Connacht final. They selected from a full panel yesterday after full forward Declan Maxwell recovered from a knee injury.

• The GAA have announced the McNamee Awards for 2005. Damian Lawlor, formerly of the Irish Daily Star and now with the Sunday Independent, got the award for best newspaper article: his piece on the Ballina Stephenites player David Brady after the 2005 All-Ireland club final.

Former sports editor of the The Kerryman John Barry is inducted into the hall of fame alongside Irish Times writers Paddy Downey and Sean Kilfeather.

LEITRIM (SFC v Mayo): C McCrann; D Reynolds, J McKeon, M McGuinness; D McHugh, B McWeeney, S Foley; G McCloskey, C Carroll; B Prior, M Foley, C Regan; D Duignan, D Maxwell, C Duignan.

McNAMEE AWARDS: Best Website - Fintona GAA Club, Tyrone. Best County Final Programme - Clare hurling and football finals. Best Local Radio Programme - Clare FM for Jamesie (presenter Mike McCartney). Best County Yearbook - Tipperary. Best Club Media Presentation - Castlewellan, Co Down. Best Article in a National or Provincial Newspaper - Damian Lawlor. Special Merit Award - Kerry County Board: Eolaire - Information booklet for GAA officials and supporters. Hall of Fame - John Barry (former sports editor, The Kerryman).