Carroll gets his just dessert

News round-up: John Carroll is back in the Tipperary starting line-up for Sunday's All-Ireland hurling quarter-final against Offaly. The Roscrea player was dropped before the last game against Galway but was introduced at half-time and responded with the sort of performance that defined Tipperary's eventual victory.

In scoring two points, and causing a battery of problems for the Galway defence, Carroll helped alter the game in Tipperary's favour. Manager Michael Doyle had little option but to hand him back his starting place, and he is duly named at left half forward.

While Denis Byrne, full forward the last day, now drops to the bench, the only other changes from the Galway game are positional. Lar Corbett moves into full forward and Brian O'Meara moves into the left corner.

Offaly will finalise their team after training tonight, and manager Mike McNamara reports a clean bill of health for his panel following the third round qualifier win over Limerick.

For Wexford, who play Antrim in the other quarter-final, the news is less positive on the injury front. Full back Darragh Ryan is ruled out after breaking a bone in his hand in the course of last Saturday's win over Waterford.

Centre forward Adrian Fenlon is also set to miss out with a hamstring injury. Yet his loss is Larry Murphy's gain as the veteran forward, who had such a sparkling game when appearing as an early substitute the last day, is now likely to get a starting place at full forward, with Paul Codd moving into the half back line.

In football news, meanwhile, Laois have appealed against the straight red card shown to defender Kevin Fitzpatrick in the course of Sunday's Leinster final.

The automatic four-week suspension that comes with the sending-off would rule Fitzpatrick out of the All-Ireland quarter-finals the weekend after next. The foul that led to his sending-off was clearly captured on television, and suggested the tackle on Kildare's Tadgh Fennin was more late than intentional.

Kildare are now likely to wait until Saturday before finalising their team to play Roscommon - the first ever championship game between the counties - in one of the two remaining All-Ireland qualifiers.

Both wing backs Anthony Rainbow and Karl Ennis, who missed Sunday's Leinster final, are still struggling to shake off their respective leg and ankle injuries and manager Padraig Nolan is intent on giving them every chance of playing a part in the game in Portlaoise.

Donegal, who play Down in the other qualifier at Clones, will almost certainly be without injured defender Damien Diver, but there is better news from former captain Mark Crossan who has put his long-term knee injury behind him.

Down manager Paddy O'Rourke has an even greater selection headache. Both Gregory McCartan and Dan Gordon are already ruled out through suspension, and forward Benny Coulter is suffering from concussion after the defeat to Tyrone in last Sunday's Ulster final replay.

Reports that Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton is considering a move into soccer have been confirmed, with the player set for a trial with St Patrick's Athletic next week.

Cluxton's decision to try out for the club has not come about because of any fall-out with the Dublin management, but rather because of the three-month suspension that is likely to beckon for his sending off against Armagh.

Finally, the pairings have also been made for four quarter-finals of the All-Ireland minor championship. Leinster champions Dublin were drawn against Fermanagh. The other pairings are: Kerry against Mayo, Tyrone against Laois and Galway against Cork. Like the senior games, all quarter-finals will take place on Bank Holiday weekend of August 2nd to 4th.

TIPPERARY (SH v Offaly): B Cummins; T Costello, P Curran, M Maher; E Corcoran, T Dunne, P Kelly; B Dunne, E Enright; M O'Leary, C Gleeson, J Carroll; E Kelly, L Corbett, B O'Meara.