Injuries add to Dublin worries

The Dublin hurlers have some untimely injury problems ahead of Sunday's Allianz National League clash against Galway at Parnell Park.

Having surprisingly drawn with league champions Kilkenny in the opening round, Dublin had their round-two clash with Antrim postponed because of inclement weather. That game has since been refixed for Wednesday, March 28th, under the lights of Casement Park. So Sunday's game is only Dublin's second of the campaign.

To compound the lack of match practice, manager Tommy Naughton finds himself with less than a full hand. Definitely ruled out are Keith Dunne (hamstring) and Alan McCrabbe (knee), and there is also a question about the former captain, Kevin Flynn, who has been sidelined this week with a hamstring.

Flynn scored two points against Kilkenny, operating first at midfield and later at corner forward, and Naughton will hope he can at least play some role against a Galway team who have very much proven themselves in form in Division One B under new manager Ger Loughnane - recording impressive wins over Antrim and Limerick.

Kilkenny endured another surprise result - defeat to Tipperary - since the draw with Dublin, and their third-round clash with Limerick has been fixed for Monday afternoon in Nowlan Park. While manager Brian Cody will be without the Ballyhale Shamrock pair Henry Shefflin and James Cha Fitzpatrick for one last week, he is about to welcome back three other All-Ireland winners.

Corner back Michael Kavanagh has returned to training after recovering from a foot injury and centre back John Tennyson and goalkeeper James McGarry are also back training after recent ankle injuries.

Clare manager Tony Considine has also had his share of injury concerns in recent weeks but is hoping for a stronger pick for their round-three clash with Division One A leaders Waterford.

Diarmuid McMahon, Gerry O'Grady, Barry Nugent, Anthony Kilmartin and captain Frank Lohan were sidelined for the second-round defeat to Wexford but have returned to training.

Meanwhile, Gerry Murphy has resigned as Monaghan hurling manager, citing lack of support from dual players. Murphy said some players had been putting football first and missing training. Monaghan are bottom of Division Three A after two defeats.