Kilmurray names full strength team

Offaly manager Kevin Kilmurray has named a full strength team ahead of Sunday's Leinster championship opener against Louth in Pairc Tailteann, Navan.

A significant boost to the line-up is the return of Pascal Kellaghan to the replacements after a three-week hiatus for personal reasons.

Captain Barry Mooney has recovered from injury, as have John Kenny and Roy Malone but both fail to make the starting line-up.

Offaly were beaten last weekend by Galway in the final warm-up match, 3-11 to 0-13, but Kilmurray wasn't overly perturbed by this result: "I learned a lot from the league so it was more a chance to have a last look at some players."

In contrast, Louth have been severely hit by injuries with Shane Lennon and Niall Sharkey definitely out while a number of other players are struggling.

Val Andrew's panel have had a poor league campaign with just two victories and a draw in the league. In recent weeks they have managed a straightforward win over London but drew with Antrim before being heavily beaten by Wicklow last weekend, 2-18 to 0-10.

"Offaly are a solid division one football team who have produced good performances against Westmeath, Cork, Mayo and Donegal," admitted Andrews. "We are a mid-table division two team."

Derry pair Eoin Bradley and Enda Muldoon have returned to full-time training after serious injury. Both regained match fitness with their clubs with 2004 All Star Muldoon taking several months to recover from an operation. Sean Marty Lockhart, Francis McEldowney and Conor McWilliams are also on the way to recovery from lengthy injuries and will all have a part to play in the championship opener against Monaghan.

Meanwhile, the combined attendances for the national league finals show a 12-year high of 68,955. On Sunday, 46,455 turned up at Croke Park for the football division one and two finals which saw Armagh and Monaghan take the cups to Ulster. On Monday, 22,500 were in Semple Stadium as Kilkenny overwhelmed Clare.

Galway are faced with an injury crisis ahead of the All-Ireland under-21 football final against Down at Mullingar on Saturday.

Coach Peter Ford has five key players - including his entire half-back line - facing a battle to be fit as the county bid to win the under-21 title for only the third time.

The injuries mounted for Galway during Saturday's thrilling 0-17 to 1-11 semi-final win over Cork, with the half-back line of Darren Mullaghy, Niall Coyne and Gary Sice all having to be replaced during the second-half.

Sice is suffering from a groin injury, while Mullaghy and Coyne both took heavy knocks to the head. Midfielder Barry Cullinane, a doubt before the semi-final, is also on the injured list while centre-forward Damien Dunleavy is perhaps Galway's biggest worry.

Peter Canavan ended weeks of speculation last night when he returned to the Tyrone squad.

The All-Ireland winning captain gave the county's championship hopes a huge boost when he rejoined his former colleagues.

Contrary to reports, Canavan did not rejoin the squad last week, but was back with the squad at a session in Clogher a week later than scheduled.

This Friday, seven of the GAA's most famous individuals will be on show at the "Playing for Life" Ball in Dublin. Organised by television broadcaster Treacy Piggott, the event's purpose is to raise funds to send DJ Carey and former greats Jack O'Shea, Eoin Liston, Robbie O'Malley, Joe Cooney, Barney Rock and Brian Whelahan to Malawi next November on a coaching mission.

The ball takes place at Jury's Hotel with Michael O'Muircheartaigh hosting an auction on the night.

OFFALY (SF v Louth): P Kelly; C Daly, C Evans, S Brady; B Mooney (capt), S Sullivan, K Slattery; C McManus, A McNamee; J Reynolds, D Hunt, N Coughlan; C Quinn, N McNamee, J Coughlan.

TIPPERARY (MH v Limerick): M Ryan; D Patterson, E Costello, P Hayes; T Stapleton, R McLoughney, P J Troy; K Lanigan, N Bergin; J Ryan, D O'Hanlon, C McGrath; J McLoughney, K Reade, P Ivors.