Whelahan may yet play a role

Offaly hurling great Brian Whelahan could yet feature in Sunday's Leinster quarter-final against Laois, despite failing to make their starting line-up announced after training last night.

Although he didn't play any part in Offaly's run to the play-offs of the league, Whelahan has been training with the team in recent weeks and clearly figures in the plans of manager John McIntyre.

The four-time All Star, now aged 34, was also held back with a recent groin operation, but as he gradually returns to full fitness Whelahan is now certain to figure at some stage of Offaly's championship campaign.

McIntyre still announced a strong line-up for Sunday's game in Portlaoise, where the winners progress to meet Wexford on June 11th. Corner forward Alan Egan and defender Brendan O'Meara are carrying shoulder and hamstring injuries, respectively, and thus failed to make the starting 15.

Yet full forward Joe Bergin is the sole championship debutant, with Ger Oakley returning to midfield to partner Gary Hanniffy, Michael Cordial starting at wing forward, and Barry Teehan coming in at corner back for the injured O'Meara.

Egan had an MRI scan yesterday to assess the full extent of what is an ongoing problem and if he is ruled out long term then Whelahan is one of several replacements (he won an All Star at full forward in 1998). He in fact played at corner forward in a challenge game against Cork last Friday and while his days as a first-rate defender appear over, he does figure in McIntyre's attacking options.

"Brian is still very enthusiastic," says McIntyre, "and still a great option for us. And of course he still has great leadership qualities. He has been training away with us but is probably a few weeks short of full match fitness."

Even with Laois having problems of their own in the dispute with the Portlaoise club, McIntyre remains openly wary about Sunday's game: "I know Laois have been preparing well for this game, and we certainly feel it's a lot more tricky that other people think. This is first game all year that Offaly have started as favourites, except for the meeting with Down in the league, and that's always a danger."

Laois, however, haven't enjoyed a championship win over their neighbours since 1972. The Offaly panel has also been further strengthened since the league with the return of defender Niall Claffey, who had opted off the panel at the start of the season because of work commitments.

In football, Limerick manager Mikey Ned O'Sullivan has named two championship debuts for Sunday's Munster quarter-final meeting with Clare in corner back Shane Gallagher and wing back Andrew Lane. Team captain Muiris Gavin failed to pass a fitness test last evening but is included in the substitutes.

Sligo manager Tommy Breheny has several injury concerns ahead of Sunday's meeting with Galway - including midfielder Seán Davey (hamstring) and forwards Mark Breheny and Brendan Egan.

Limerick's hurling defender Denis Moloney is set to miss the rest of the championship having suffered a serious knee injury early on in Sunday's defeat to Tipperary in the Munster championship.

OFFALY (SH v Laois): B Mullins; B Teehan, P Clearly, D Franks; K Brady, R Hanniffy, D Tanner; G Hanniffy, G Oakley; B Murphy, M O'Hara, M Cordial; B Carroll, J Bergin, A Hanrahan.

LIMERICK (SF v Clare): J Kiely; S Gallagher, J McCarthy, P Browne; C Mullane, S Lavin, A Lane; J Stokes, J Galvin; P Ahern, D Reidy, S Buckley, M Crowley, J Murphy, M Reidy.

WICKLOW (SFC v Carlow): R Daniels; C Hyland, D Power, B Daly; K Manning, W Callaghan, T Burke; J Stafford, JP Dalton; P Cronin, L Glynn, P Dalton; T Gill, W O'Gorman, J Daniels.