JOHN MAUGHAN will have to juggle his options when he selects his side tonight for Sunday's Connacht semi-final with Leitrim in Castlebar.

Maughan faces a number of problems: James Nallen has flu, David Nestor is likely to be ruled out by injury while Ronan Golding is carrying an injury. His problems are partly offset, however, by the return of a prominent former squad player, Kevin O'Neill, and the good form of a number of players on the wider panel.

Centre back Nallen, despite having flu, may yet be named in the side this evening. Pat Holmes is the obvious replacement should Nallen fail to make it.

Nestor went over on an ankle in training last week, did not look too comfortable at the weekend, and is likely to be ruled out. Golding also picked up an ankle injury.

However, Maughan's options have increased in recent times. Kevin O'Neill rejoined the panel last week for the first time since last year's All-Ireland replay. The former All Star forward was surprisingly excluded from the panel for last September's replay and was subsequently embroiled in the dispute between Maughan and county champions Knockmore. He is believed to be playing well and is pushing for a place in the starting line-up.

Kieran McDonald also showed he is worthy of a place in the attack when scoring two nice points after coming on against Galway in Tuam.

Seamus Bonner, the Leitrim manager, would feel a lot happier about his team's chances if he could be sure of the services of Fergal Reynolds and Joe Honeyman. Both players are nursing knee injuries. Reynolds broke down in training, while Honeyman picked up his injury against London in Ruislip. Ciaran McGovern and Gerry Flanagan are the likely replacements.

The news for Danny Ball and his Tyrone side is good as the squad prepare for the Ulster semi-final against Derry in Clones on Sunday. Defender Chris Lawn has been cleared to play as he only received the minimum two weeks suspension following his sending-off for a second bookable offence against Armagh last Sunday week.

However, Derry are unlikely to have a full panel to pick from this evening. Fergal McCusker, who has a nagging hamstring strain, is the most doubtful.

Donegal's Declan Bonner has retired after Sunday's defeat to Cavan at Clones. Manager P J McGowan is undecided on his future with the team. His tenure is complete and it's now up to the county board to decide on a replacement should he step down. A number of the team are likely to join Bonner in retirement. Brian Murray has indicated that he is a likely candidate.

Tipperary have been denied the services of Peter Lambert for Sunday's Munster senior football championship semi-final against Kerry in Tralee. Lambert broke a collar-bone while assisting his club Ardfinnan in the last minute of a South Tipperary championship match against Grangemockler at the weekend.

The Nemo Rangers club benefited from Lambert's services while he was based in Cork, but the Tipperary man re-registered for his native club recently.

This will be the third time this season that Lambert misses a championship encounter. He played in the drawn tie against Limerick, but was unavailable for the replay in Clonmel as he was abroad on honeymoon. He subsequently missed out on the quarter-final against Waterford in Dungarvan having returned only on the day of that match.

Tipperary team manager Paddy Morrissey will also have to do without wing back David Kennedy and forward Declan Browne, while Brendan Cummins may also be unavailable.

Kennedy sustained a shoulder injury while assisting the county's under-21 hurlers in their championship clash with Limerick last Thursday. Browne is unavailable because of torn ligaments and an ankle injury.

Cummins is carrying an ankle injury and will not want to aggravate it in the run-up to the Munster senior hurling final against Clare on July 6th. The county's hurling goalkeeper kicked eight points when he was introduced as a substitute during the Clonmel replay, while he also knocked home the deciding goal against Waterford in Dungarvan.

Tipperary name their team this evening, as do Kerry.