Offaly's Hubert Rigney and Kevin Martin will almost certainly be unavailable for Sunday week's All-Ireland hurling semi-final against Cork due to injuries suffered in last Sunday's All-Ireland quarter-final against Antrim. Rigney is on crutches at present, and although fears that he had a broken leg have been dispelled, tests at the Mater Hospital in Dublin have revealed severe bruising and ligament damage. Martin, who was also taken to the Mater, lost the nail off his little finger on his right hand and there was further damage to the finger.

A spokesman for the Offaly county board said last night that it was "most unlikely" that either would be able to play in the semifinal. On the football scene Jimmy McGuinness has come back into the reckoning for a place in the Meath team for Sunday's Leinster football final, having recovered from a lower back injury.

McGuinness played for Dunsany against Wolfe Tones in the Meath county championship on Tuesday night and scored two goals and three points.

Meath manager Sean Boylan was more guarded on Tommy Dowd's availability. "He is having constant treatment for a back injury for some time and his consultant will decide on whether he will play or not. I will take whatever advice the consultant gives," Boylan said.

He added that injury doubts also hang over Nigel Nestor, Roy Magee and Richie Kealy. The Galway hurling selectors may hand Liam Hodgins from the Abbey-Duniry club the number three shirt for the All-Ireland quarter-final replay with Clare on Monday. Their two first-choice full backs, Brian Feeney and Michael Healy, left the field injured during Sunday's pulsating draw. Peter Hoban finished the match at full back, but he may now move to the right corner in a switch with Hodgins.

Centre back and team captain Cathal Moore and right corner forward Kevin Broderick both have hand injuries but should be available.