Diarmuid Marsden, Armagh's talented and versatile forward, has confirmed that he will not be fit to play in the National Football League quarter-final match against Sligo in Longford on Sunday. Marsden pulled a groin muscle playing for Ulster in the interprovincial match against Munster in Killarney last Sunday and, to some extent, is bitter about that.
He had played in a crucial National League match against Leitrim in Crossmaglen on Saturday and, following a hasty meal in Dundalk, set out for Killarney in the evening for the match against Munster the following day.
He believes that the pressure of playing two matches back-to-back may have contributed to the fact that, after scoring a point from a free kick, he felt severe pain in his groin and retired immediately.
He says he hoped that he would make a quick recovery but, as things worked out, it was more serious than he thought.
"I can't understand why any player should be expected to go through that kind of pressure and such a long journey in the space of 24 hours. We headed down to Limerick on Saturday evening and stayed overnight and went on to Killarney in the morning and headed back soon after the match but it was a very tiring weekend." The Armagh selectors will not name their team for the Longford match until tonight. Goalkeeper Brendan Tierney has been nursing a leg injury but is expected to be fit. Armagh have been operating a dual goalkeeper system this season and Mark Campbell is standing by should Tierney not be fit.
Doubt also surrounds the fitness of Cathal O'Rourke (hamstring) and Enda McNulty (knee).
Sligo have decided not to field two of their under-21 side. Noel McGuire and John McPartland will be replaced at full back and corner forward respectively by Colin White and Pascal Bree.
Doubt still surrounds the availability of Sean Flannery and Eamon Cawley, both of whom have visited hospital following last Monday's under-21 victory over Mayo.
Meath have postponed their selection for their quarter-final against Kerry in Limerick until later in the week. Their manager, Sean Boylan is confident that John McDermott will be fit to take his place but there is some concern about the fitness of Jody Devine, who is having treatment for a leg injury.
They will definitely be without the services of Enda McManus, who is getting married, while Darren Fay has "a touch of 'flu".
Boylan says: "Tommy Dowd is definitely out of contention for a place because of an ankle injury suffered in a club match while Trevor Giles is in Australia. We will decide on the line-up some time early tomorrow (Thursday)." Kerry have decided to leave their under-21 players out. Noel Kennelly, Tomas O Se and Aodhan MacGearailt were not considered.
Back into the side come experienced corner backs Killian Burns and Aidan Fitzmaurice while Billy O'Shea continues his rehabilitation after injury and Liam Hassett plays at centre forward. John Crowley is out of the reckoning because of injury. Liam Flaherty from Ballydonoghue, comes into the side at centre half back.
Dublin will be able to recall Paul Curran for their clash with Kildare at Croke Park. Curran missed recent matches for the county because of work commitments.
Jim Gavin is also likely to be in the line-up while Keith Galvin will also be available also following a term of suspension.
Dublin will not announce their line-up until after training tonight and Kildare are also keeping their powder dry for the moment but are expected to be at full strength.
On the hurling scene Kilkenny have recalled Willie O'Connor for the first time under the management of Brian Cody for their National League match at Nowlan Park against Wexford.
Denis Byrne partners Phil Larkin at midfield, while Andy Comerford moves to centre forward. Limerick have made seven changes to the team which was well beaten by Dublin last week for their league clash with Kerry. Three changes were forced upon the selectors because of injuries to Shane O'Neill, Declan Nash and Brian Geary.
KERRY (SF v Meath): D O'Keeffe; K Burns, B O'Shea, E Fitzmaurice; S Moynihan, L Flaherty, E Breen; D O Se, D Daly; B O'Shea, L Hassett, J McGlynn; G Murphy, M Fitzgerald, D O Cinneide. Subs: P O'Leary, W Kirby, P O'Sullivan, T O Se, N Kennelly, A MacGearailt, J O'Shea, R MacGearailt, J Ferriter.
KILKENNY (SH v Wexford): J McGarry; J Butler, J Costelloe, W O'Connor; M Kavanagh, E Kennedy, P Barry; D Byrne, P Larkin; DJ Carey, A Comerford, B McEvoy; K O'Shea, H Shefflin, C Carter.
LIMERICK (SH v Kerry): J Quaid; S Lucey, B Begley, Dave Ryan; D Clarke, C Carey, C Smith; O Moran, J Foley; C Hickey, M Houlihan, M Foley; M O'Brien, M Fitzgerald, D Quigley.
