Gaelic Games digest

Today's other stories in brief

Tyrone trio sidelined

Three of Tyrone's key attackers are battling against injury setbacks ahead of their All-Ireland football quarter-final on Sunday week.

Gerard Cavlan, Brian Dooher and Stephen O'Neill have all been forced to withdraw from squad training and are currently undergoing treatment.

Cavlan pulled up with a hamstring tear in the latter stages of the Ulster final win over Monaghan a week ago, but manager Mickey Harte is somewhat relieved that the damage is not overly serious.

"It's not a major tear," said Harte, "I suppose we talk about these things in terms of grade one, two and three, and it's at the lesser end of the scale anyway, which is good."

Stephen O'Neill hasn't started a championship game this year, but has made two brief substitute appearances. He has had hamstring trouble since the early stages of the season, and subsequently developed tendonitis in a knee. Harte added: "Stevie is still battling with tendonitis in the knee, and wouldn't be ready for full training yet either."

And Harte revealed that captain Brian Dooher carried a hamstring injury into the provincial decider and is still troubled by the problem.

"Brian Dooher is having difficulty with a groin problem that he took into the game against Monaghan," the Tyrone manager said. "That's still giving him bother. Colin Holmes isn't fit for full training yet either, with a foot injury."

An open draw for the quarter-finals will be held next Sunday evening, with the four qualifiers pitted against the four provincial champions. With Ulster final opponents Monaghan ruled out of the equation, Tyrone could face any of five other teams - Cork, Meath, Donegal, Derry or Laois.

McCarthy ruled out

Niall McCarthy has been ruled out of next Sunday's All-Ireland hurling quarter-final meeting with Waterford.

Better news for Cork supporters is that manager Gerald McCarthy has an otherwise fully fit panel to choose from after Tom Kenny recovered from a hamstring injury. Corner backs Shane O'Neill and Brian Murphy are both back to full fitness following minor knocks.

Blues for the Blues

It was Round 16 of the AFL Premiership season in Australia at the weekend with several former GAA stars in action.

Former Down minor footballer Martin Clarke helped Collingwood Magpies strengthen their position in the top eight of the league table, playing in the 122 to 93 defeat of Essendon at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday before a crowd of 65,531.

Tadhg Kennelly was a late withdrawal after a week of fitness speculation before Sydney Swans' game against the West Coast Eagles at Subiaco Oval and the visitors missed the Kerry man, losing by to their arch-rivals by a 12-point margin in Perth.

It was another disastrous day at the Gabba for former Cork hurler Setanta Ó hAilpín as the Carlton Blues were annihilated 163 to 46 by the Brisbane Lions - who didn't feature former Laois star Colm Begley.

Griffin back in fray

Tony Griffin is expected to earn a call-up to the Clare senior hurling panel ahead of next weekend's All-Ireland quarter-final clash with Limerick at Croke Park.

The former All Star winner has not been a member of Clare's squad yet this championship season as he was concentrating on a marathon charity cycle across Canada in recent months.

With his cycling commitments now over, it is expected he will get a call-up to Clare manager Tony Considine's panel.

Armagh reach final

Competition favourites Armagh secured a date in the Nicky Rackard Cup final with a 21-point victory over Donegal - 3-28 to 2-10 - on Saturday at Keady.

Roscommon proved to be in a different league to Louth in the other semi-final at the weekend, winning by 14 points - 2-13 to 0-5 at St Brigid's Park in Dundalk.GAADigest