Meath will play with tried and trusted 15

MEATH will field an unchanged team for the fourth championship match in succession when they meet Tyrone in the All Ireland semi-final at Croke Park on Sunday. Tyrone have also announced the same team that that which beat Down in the Ulster final.

The entire Meath squad trained as normal last night but a final decision on the list of substitutes will be left until later in the week, although no changes are expected there either.

Apart from some bumps and bruises following a tough encounter with Dublin in the Leinster final, Meath did not have any serious injury worries. Many in the county were worried about having five of the senior team squad involved in an under 21 semi-final against Cavan two weeks ago.

That match was drawn and only Trevor Giles caused a problem by straining a thigh muscle. But he made a quick recovery and he is joined by his four fellow under 21 players, Mark O'Reilly Darren Fay, Paddy Reynolds and Barry Callaghan in the senior squad.

If Meath win on Sunday it is expected that they will ask for a postponement of the under 21 replay which has been fixed for Hyde Park, Roscommon on Sunday week.

Meath beat Carlow by 0-24 to 0-6 in their opening match of the Leinster championship and then went on to beat Laois by 2-14 to 1-9 in the semi-final. They accounted for Dublin in the final on a score of 0-10 to 0-8. It was their first Leinster championship title for five years.

The fact that both counties have had such settled teams is evidence of their consistency. Meath, in particular, have shown steady form throughout the championship and although there was a period of some anxiety against Dublin they were deserving winners. It comes as no surprise that Sean Boylan and his selectors have opted not to change horses in mid stream.

Tyrone were thought to be considering a change at centre halfback where Fergal Logan was thought to have a chance of returning to the team in place of Seamus McCallan, «MDBO»b«MDNM»ut the selectors have given the team a vote of confidence.

Back into the squad comes Ciaran Corr, who lost his place for the Ulster final having married the week before the match and having made arrangements for his honeymoon which could not be changed. With Logan he is now included in a list of 10 subs.

Tyrone also had a full training session last night and both sides will now meet for some loosening «MDBO»u«MDNM»p exercises a couple of times before travelling to Dublin. Only, two of the Tyrone players, Gerard Cavlan and Brian Dooher, are newcomers to the squad which contested last year's semi-final and final.

Most of the Meath team will be playing in their first All Ireland semi-final. Only four Martin O'Connell, Tommy Dowd, Colm Coyle and Brendan Reilly were in the squad which contested the 1991 final, when they were beaten by Down.

This will be Meath's 18th All Ireland semi-final. Of their matches to date they have won I 3 and lost only four. Of their seven semi-finals to date Tyrone have won two and lost five. They were beaten by a point in last year's final against Dublin having beaten Galway in the semi-final. They also lost the 1986 final, to Kerry.

Sunday's match will be all ticket, with the Croke Park authorities expecting something in the region of 60,000 to attend. Tickets for the stands are £16 for the Cusack and £15 for the Hogan with £8 for places on the terrace.

. Pat Horan from Offaly will take charge of this year's All Ireland hurling final between Limerick and Wexford on September 1st at Croke Park. Horan from the St Rynagh's club, has been a senior referee for 13 years and was in control when Wexford heat Dublin in this year's Leinster semi-final and also refereed the minor All-Ireland semi-final between Antrim and Tipperary.

He has taken charge of no fewer than five All-Ireland Vocational Schools finals.

The minor All-Ireland hurling final between Galway and Tipperary will be refereed by Joe O'Leary from Cork, who is a member of Na Piarsaigh club.

He was in charge of the Munster senior final and final replay this year between Limerick and Tipperary. He also refereed the Wexford Galway All-Ireland semi-final, and is an experienced football referee.