Down duo to miss opener

BOTH DOWN and Fermanagh have one high-profile injury problem ahead of Sunday’s Ulster football championship preliminary round meeting at Brewster Park.

Down forward Benny Coulter is likely to miss out as he continues to get treatment on a heel injury which ruled him out of last month’s league Division Three final defeat to Tipperary, while definitely ruled out is cruciate knee ligament victim Liam Doyle.

Fermanagh will be without former All Star Barry Owens, who is still recovering from knee surgery, but is expected to make the next round against Cavan on June 6th, should Fermanagh progress.

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has already ruled out Stephen O’Neill from his starting 15 for their Ulster Championship opener on May 31st. O’Neill is still troubled by the knee injury sustained in the opening league match against Dublin at the start of the year, and although he is back in training, Harte says he will need a little more time to reach starting fitness.

The Wicklow County Board are awaiting the referee’s report before deciding what, if any, action they will take following the melee at Saturday’s county Division One league match between Rathnew and Stratford. Six players were sent off as a result, with a Stratford player also reportedly hospitalised. The referee resumed action and played out the final 10 minutes, with Stratford winning by 1-13 to 0-9.