Molloy favoured to get the nod

Anthony Molloy, Donegal's All-Ireland winning captain in 1992 is the favourite among a list of five nominees, to take over from PJ McGowan as manager of the county side. A final decision will be made at Monday night's meeting of the county board when the candidates will be asked to outline their plans for the future of Donegal football.

Donal Reid who was on Molloy's winning team, has withdrawn his name from the list of candidates. Remaining in contention are Declan Bonner, another member of the 1992 team who has recently returned from football, Tom Conahan, Eddie Gallagher and Padraig McShea.

Conahan was a previous manager of the county team, from 1986 to 1989, during which Donegal's best feat was reaching the Ulster final.

Since retiring from football, Molloy has attained notable success with the county minor team. Yesterday's announcement of the five nominations also kills off the rumours that Brian McEniff was set for a comeback.

Meanwhile, Antrim football is set for a major boost with the return of the Cargin club players who had opted out of the panel because of a domestic dispute with the county Board prior to the Ulster quarter-final clash with Donegal. At least six Cargin players are involved and they will be rejoining forces with some of the St Paul's club players who had also been notable absentees for the championship.

Former Down hurling manager Sean McGuinness is the front runner to take over from Dominic McKinley as manager of the Antrim senior hurling team. A native of Antrim, McGuinness had a previous spell with the Antrim team before guiding Down to the Ulster title at the expense of the Glensmen.

The four players who were sent off in last Sunday's Leinster senior football championship semi-final second replay tie in Croke Park, Meath's Mark O'Reilly and Darren Fay, along with Kildare's Brian Murphy and Davy Dalton, will know their fate within a fortnight.

The Leinster executive have no immediate plans to deal with the players on the evidence of the referee's report before next Saturday week's all-ticket Leinster final. O'Reilly and Fay are already ineligible to play in the final.

The Leinster council are planning for a crowd of between 45,000 and 50,000 for the final. The throw-in is timed for 5.0 p.m. with the curtain-raiser between Laois and Wicklow minors scheduled for 3.15 p.m.