Tompkins intends to pick and play in equal measure

LARRY TOMPKINS intends to resume his playing career with Cork. Appointed as the county's manager in succession to Billy Morgan on Tuesday night, Tompkins will become the country's first senior intercounty player-manager if he lines out for Cork again.

Tompkins (34), has not played for the team since early in last year's League campaign because of recurring injury problems. He has had to endure a number of serious injuries in the last few years, including cruciate ligament and back problems. He was even kept out of a championship starting line-up because of sunburn.

"I'll be in a strong position to pick myself anyway," Tompkins said yesterday, before confirming that his position as manager will be reviewed after a year. Morgan had a year of his two-year term to complete when he handed in his resignation.

Paddy Sheahan of Mallow, who was one of Morgan's selectors, will continue and complete his two-year term. The third selector will come from the as yet to be discovered county champions. Terry O'Neill of Bantry Blues served in that capacity last season.

Also on the managerial front, Brian Mullins and his co-selectors are likely to be endorsed for another term at the helm of Derry football. Mullins and selectors Eugene Young, Frank Kearney and Anthony McGurk have notified the county board of their willingness to take charge for another year.

Kearney believes that the management team will take a different approach this year. "Our approach would be very different this time. We weren't expecting to put so much into the League, but the whole thing snowballed on us and before we knew it we were in the semi-finals. From that point on we were into the serious and urgent business of trying to win a national title. It was right in the middle of our final championship preparations."

Another manager looking ahead is Dublin's Mickey Whelan. He will be naming his panel for the new season within a couple of weeks. His meeting with the players last Friday evening, which he insists had no special significance or unusual purpose is reported to have "gone well".

"We will be going hard at the league with promotion being our chief objective," Whelan says. He will name a panel of some 30 players and "both Paul Clarke and Ciaran Walsh will be a part of that".

Meanwhile, Cavan have made changes in defence and attack for Sunday's All-Ireland under-21 football semi-final replay against Meath at Hyde Park. Full back Ciaran Reilly has been dropped. Conor McCarey comes in at left corner back, with Mick Reilly moving to full back. The right half forward spot is left open. Donal McCann occupied the berth in the first game.

Christy Moire and his Meath selectors are playing for time because of an injury crisis. Moore found it impossible to name a side last night and will wait until this evening to select. Trevor Giles is the worst hit of an injury list that includes senior stars Barry Callaghan and Paddy Reynolds.

Another injury casualty fro Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final is Tyrone's Peter Canavan. He is on crutches and is not expected to return to action for at least another five to six weeks. Swollen and torn ligaments will deny the team captain the opportunity of rejoining his Errigal Chiarain team-mates for club action this weekend. He will also miss out on the quarter-finals of the Tyrone championship.

The referee's report from Sunday's match is expected to arrive at GAA headquarters today There has been a suggestion that Michael Curley's report and a video of the game may be reviewed by the Games Administration Committee in the light of incidents that led to a number of injuries. The GAC will decide if any action is to be taken when it convenes next week.