THE REPLAY of the Leinster football championship match between Westmeath and Offaly, who drew 0-8 each last Sunday, has been fixed for Saturday night week (June 7th - 7.0) by the Leinster Council.

The match will be all-ticket with a limit of 10,000 being imposed for the redeveloped Mullingar ground. Tickets will be available before the end of the week with 1,000 being reserved for school children attending in groups.

The decision by the Leinster Council to put the match back by a week was taken last night. The delegates were told by the administrative staff that a limit would have to be put on the attendance following the draw which attracted 12,000 in Tullamore.

The possibility of playing the match on Sunday week was ruled out because the Offaly hurlers will be involved in a Leinster championship match against Laois in Croke Park on that day. On that basis both Westmeath and Offaly agreed to a Saturday evening fixture (7.0) to avoid a clash with the hurling match.

Westmeath will be grateful for the respite. Their opening match against Wexford ended in a draw, which required a replay, with the result that they played three championship matches on three successive weekends. A lengthy injury list was another problem.

Offaly argued originally that it was not their concern that Westmeath had played two draws, but when a possible clash with their own hurlers arose they were happy to go along with the Leinster Council ruling.

The Leinster Council decided last night that Anthony Coyne from Westmeath and the Wexford player Leigh O'Brien both stand suspended for four weeks from May 11th after being sent off in their drawn match. This means that Coyne will not be available for the replay against Offaly.

The Leinster Council is, quite naturally, very pleased with the extra revenue generated by Westmeath's run.

However, it is not only in Leinster that the GAA is prospering. Last Sunday's five championship matches attracted 86,227 spectators. The biggest attendance of the day was in Clones - 24,622 - for the Tyrone-Down replay.

The provincial councils and county boards are also benefiting from the sponsorship of the football championship by Bank of Ireland. Within the past few weeks more than £430,000 has been distributed by the sponsors. Each provincial council received £50,000 and each county £7,000. Further payments will be made as counties progress.

The football championship continues next Sunday with games in each province. Leitrim travel to London, Waterford entertain Tipperary and Carlow play Louth, but the big tie is the clash between Derry and Monaghan at Clones.

Derry manager Brian Mullins and his selectors will, with two exceptions, be able to pick from a full squad. Sean Martin Lockhart strained a thigh muscle in a challenge match against Meath last Friday week and is likely to be out of action for another two weeks at least. Gary Coleman, who has been troubled by a hamstring injury, is a doubtful starter.

Monaghan's selectors will not be able to call on corner forward Declan Smith, who has a broken finger. But he is the only absentee from an otherwise fully fit squad under the guidance of Sean McCague.

Tyrone manager Danny Ball received good news yesterday when an X-ray revealed that Fergal Logan's ankle injury is not as serious as first thought. Logan was helped from the field towards the end of last Sunday's match in Clones and it was feared that his ankle was broken, but it appears that the problem is torn ligaments. He hopes to be back in training next week.

Tipperary have selection problems. Declan Browne is still affected by the injury which forced him out of the first-round tie against Limerick and is considered doubtful. Peter Lambert, who missed the replay against Limerick, is on his honeymoon and not expected home until Sunday evening.

However, Tipperary will have dual player Brendan Cummins available as Tipperary's National Hurling League game against Kilkenny has been switched to Saturday night.