GAELIC GAMES:Meath captain Anthony Moyles and full back Darren Fay have been given an additional 24 hours to recover from their respective injuries ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland football semi-final against Cork. Manager Colm Coyle decided after training last night to postpone announcing a team so the players can be reassessed this morning, writes Gavin Cummiskey.
Fay is the more serious concern after sustaining a hamstring strain during the quarter-final victory over Tyrone on July 28th. He already carried a damaged knee into that game but such is his importance the management decided his presence was worth the risk. Although he has taken no part in training this week, the fitness of the three-time All Star is likely to be gambled upon again.
Moyles pulled his hamstring eight days ago. The normal recovery time for the lowest grade of hamstring tears is three weeks but earlier this week selector Dudley Farrell was adamant both players would start.
Moyles has played a multi-functional role in the Meath revival this year, be it as a roving centre forward or shoring up the defence from centre back in the latter stages of games.
One certain boost to Meath's chances of making their first All-Ireland final in six years is the return to full fitness of Séamus Kenny. A second-half replacement against Tyrone, Kenny's season had appeared over when he sustained a shoulder injury against Galway in the qualifiers. He is expected to come in at left-wing or corner back.
Graham Geraghty is also set to start his second consecutive game at wing forward but, like Moyles, his versatility will probably see him moved closer to goal as the game develops.
The Dublin under-21 hurling team shows one change from the line-up that beat Offaly in the Leinster final on July 18th with captain Johnny McCaffrey back to full fitness and taking up his regular midfield spot. Sam Lehane, who also made way that night for McCaffrey to contribute two second-half points, loses out as Joey Boland moves to left wing forward. They play Derry in the All-Ireland semi-final tomorrow evening at Páirc Esler in Newry (throw-in 6pm).
Peadar Carton is named at right corner forward after the Central Appeals Committee sent his eight-week suspension, arising from an incident playing senior intercounty against Tipperary, back for a rehearing - effectively curtailing the ban.
Kilmacud Crokes' Shane O'Rorke will not tog out as he has not recovered from a shoulder injury. His availability for the All-Ireland final on September 9th against either Cork or Galway, should Dublin progress, is also in jeopardy as by that stage he will be 15 weeks without a competitive game. On a positive note, he has resumed training this week.
Conor Connolly (groin) may be named amongst the substitutes, not selected as yet.
Derry manager Brian McGilligan has made one change from the Ulster final victory over Antrim with Conor McKenna replacing Michael Kirkpatrick at right-half back.
Derry produced a surprise 2-16 to 1-18 victory over the usual Ulster representatives in the provincial final thanks to two goals from SeáLeo McGoldrick. Rúairí McCloskey captains the team from full back.
Meanwhile, the GAA has confirmed that Diarmuid Kirwan will referee the All-Ireland hurling final between Limerick and Kilkenny at Croke Park on September 2nd. A native of Offaly, Kirwan has been living in Cork for a number of years where he played hurling at junior and intermediate levels with Erin's Own.
He refereed the All-Ireland minor final in 2002 and 2006, the National Hurling League final and the Leinster hurling final. Barry Kelly (Westmeath) will be the stand-by referee (and linesman), Michael Wadding of Waterford will act as linesman and the sideline official will by Cavan's Brendan Sweeney.
The minor final between Tipperary and Cork will be refereed by Wexford's James Owens.
DUBLIN (Under-21H v Derry):P Curtin; R Drumgoole, P Callaghan, D Webster; K Dunne, T Brady, M McGarry; J McCaffrey (capt), A McCrabbe; E Moran, D Connolly, J Boland; P Carton, D O'Dwyer, R O'Carroll.
DERRY (Under-21H v Dublin):D McDermott; S Henry, R McCloskey(capt), S McNicholl; C McKenna, M Craig, C McKenna; B Dodds, N Holley; P Henry, O McCloskey, G O'Kane; S Dodds, K O'Neill, S McGoldrick.
