Offaly trio stand by for selection

Offaly have left the right half forward position vacant in their team for their Leinster semi-final clash with Meath at Croke Park. Tom Coffey returns to the starting line-up after suffering a broken nose in the match against Kildare and will figure at left half back.

Out of the team is Colm Quinn, who was also injured in the Kildare match, and standing by to replace him, at right half forward, are David Connolly, Phil O'Reilly or Sean Grennan. A decision will not be made until later in the week. Derry are almost certain to field the team which beat Cavan 2-14 to 0-5 in their last outing. No serious injury problems have been reported and the nucleus of the side will remain intact.

Anthony Tohill and Niall McCusker have set up a very strong partnership at midfield while the half-back line of Paul McFlynn, Henry Downey and Gary Coleman is assured of reselection.

At midfield the 17-year-old McCusker has made a huge impact on the side and, in spite of his inexperience at this level, he is regarded as an ideal partner for Tohill. Aggressive and quick he provides Derry with a classical partnership.

Derry's Ronan Rocks, who was sent off against Cavan, was due to appear at the Games Administration Committee meeting at Croke Park last night.

Donegal player Niall McCreevy, who was sent off in their championship match against Armagh, was also scheduled to appear. A decision on their fate will be made known today but Rocks will not be considered for Sunday's match.

The Sligo selectors burned the midnight oil last night as they considered what team to put out in the replay of the Connacht championship semi-final replay against All-Ireland champions, Galway, in Tuam on Sunday. Although their training session finished before darkness fell, no team had been selected as the witching hour approached. It seems difficult to understand since their only major problem was that Gerry McGowan was not available after breaking his collar bone last Sunday. The only other worry was that Eamon O'Hara, who received stitches in a cut eyebrow, would be fully capable of making the team.

Galway will not name their team for the replay until doubts about the fitness of Jarlath Fallon, Shay Walsh, Kevin Walsh and Paul Clancy are cleared up. All took part in the drawn match in Sligo last Sunday but they have been having treatment during the week and will be watched carefully in training tonight. The Munster hurling final and the Leinster football semi-final will be transmitted live on Network 2 on Sunday. The Munster match at Thurles between Clare and Cork has a starting time of 4.20 while the match at Croke Park between Meath and Offaly is timed for 2.40.

The GAA pointed out yesterday that all tickets for the Munster hurling had been distributed but that tickets for the Leinster football match would go on sale at the GAA offices in Portlaoise at 4.00.

OFFALY (SF v Meath): P Kelly; C Daly, B Malone, D Foley; J Kenny, F Cullen, T Coffey; C McManus, J Grennan; AN Other, J Stewart, B O'Brien; V Claffey, R Malone, P Brady.

SLIGO (SF v Galway, Probable): P Walsh; J Joyce, C White, M Cosgrove; N McGuire, N Clancy, R Keane; P Durcan, E O'Hara; E Cawley, B Walsh, K Killeen; S Flannery, P Taylor, A N Other.