Leinster ties set to be double header

The Leinster Council seem certain to move the football championship semi-final between Offaly and Wexford back a week to ensure a Croke Park double header with the other last-four meeting of Dublin and Laois on June 25th.

There is a concern the football support in Offaly and Wexford is not sufficient to attract even 20,000 supporters to Croke Park for a stand-alone fixture. However, the Leinster Council refuse to confirm the switch until the appeals process instigated by Kildare for the alleged use of a sixth substitute by Offaly in their quarter-final on May 28th, has run its course.

"If it's Offaly, its likely to be a double header," said Leinster Council chairman Liam O'Neill. "We haven't considered the Kildare option. We have already made our decision that it is Offaly who have progressed fairly to the semi-final."

A hearing of the central appeals committee tomorrow will provide their interpretation of the blood substitute rule that has led Kildare to question last Saturday's Leinster Council ruling that stated Offaly had not infringed any rule.

Elsewhere, Louth officials appear resigned to giving up home advantage for their first-round qualifier against All-Ireland champions Tyrone on June 17th. The O'Rahilly's ground in Drogheda only holds 7,500 and for health and safety reasons a switch to Parnell Park in Dublin or Páirc Tailteann in Navan is expected to be confirmed by the GAC today.

Navan is the likely destination as Páirc Tailteann holds 29,000 while the Parnell Park capacity is just 11,000 - 12,000 Louth supporters travelled to Croke Park for the recent meeting with Meath and Tyrone fans generally travel in large numbers.

In injury news, Dublin full back Barry Cahill is expected to recover from the ankle strain that ended his participation in last Sunday's narrow victory over Longford at Pearse Park.

Absent Dublin midfielder Darren Magee will have a cast removed from around his scaphoid bone (wrist) in a fortnight but another couple of weeks of rehabilitation are required.

Tipperary defender Philip Maher is expected to make a full recovery from a knee injury ahead of the Munster hurling final against Cork on June 25th.

Two-time All-Ireland under-21 medal winner Pat Tobin has returned to the Limerick senior hurling panel ahead of the All-Ireland qualifiers. Tobin, a surprise omission when the panel was announced last December, said he was delighted to be back.

"I accepted the selectors' decision at the time and just got on with it . . . I played in the opening game in the Limerick senior hurling championship with my club Murroe/Boher in a big win over Monaleen last week and must have impressed"

Limerick footballers are preparing for their Munster championship semi-final against Cork at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday and their only concern is the fitness of captain Muiris Gavin. Gavin has made only limited appearances this season because of a leg injury.

His Monaleen clubmate Owen Keating, who has also been restricted because of an ongoing shoulder injury, is available for selection.

Galway midfielder Paul Clancy is a doubtful starter for Sunday week's Connacht semi-final against Roscommon after suffering a serious knee injury playing for Moycullen against Caltra in a senior club championship match yesterday. He had to be carried off in serious pain.

Galway boss Peter Ford and his selectors will have an anxious wait to establish the extent of the damage.

Clancy, a versatile player who can perform up front and in defence, won All-Ireland medals in 1998 and 2001 and was a key performer in the middle of the field when Galway defeated Sligo in the opening round of the Connacht championship.

Moycullen were defeated by former All-Ireland club champions Caltra by 1-15 to 0-13 in yesterday's game.

Westmeath hurling manager Séamus Qualter will tonight select from a full squad as they prepare for Saturday evening's Leinster semi-final showdown with Kilkenny.

Qualter and his selectors have been boosted by a clean bill of health as they prepare for the county's biggest hurling match in almost 70 years.