Long injury list forces Dublin to defer selection

DUBLIN'S current woes are even extending to the training ground. Indeed, when the squad met for training last night, manager Mickey Whelan was presented with a list of injuries almost as long as the new M50 - and he was forced to defer selection for Sunday's National Football League Division Two match with Monaghan in Clones until tomorrow night.

Charlie Redmond, who sustained a hip injury while assisting his club Erin's Isle last weekend, and Dessie Farrell, who has a knee injury, didn't train at all, a cause for serious concern in the Dublin camp, while other players on the casualty list include Paddy Moran (back), Ciaran Whelan (shoulder), Jim Gavin (groin), Paul Bealin (knee) and Niall Guiden, who has flu.

While Dublin need to win to banish fears of possible relegation and to keep alive any outside chances of promotion, the two teams leading the way in the division - Louth and Laois - have far more pleasant selection worries ahead of their top of the table tussle at Drogheda.

Louth's full-back Gareth O'Neill is expected to win his fitness battle with the hamstring injury he aggravated in the win last Sunday week over Dublin (an injury which prevented him starting in Leinster's Railway Cup win last Sunday); and the county's selectors have a number of options in attack, with Stefan White and Ollie McDonnell fighting for places in the starting line-up. The team is expected to be finalised after training tonight.

Laois are also due to name their team tonight and the selectors also have decisions to make regarding their attack force with Leo Turley, who underwent a minor operation last month, fit again and pressing for a recall, possibly at the expense of Damien Delaney. However, Eamon Delaney, who suffered a bad knee injury recently, is not expected to regain fitness for another two months and the selectors must decide whether to persevere with Adrian Phelan at full back or, perhaps, opt for Liam Stapleton.

All-Ireland champions Meath have deferred naming a team for Sunday's Division One encounter with Kildare at Pairc Tailteann. There is a slight injury worry surrounding Trevor Giles, but Cormac Murphy, who has recovered from a back injury, and Colm Coyle, whose suspension period has finished, are both available again.

Kildare will have a new midfield pairing for Sunday's clash. Dale Hynan and Niall Buckley, who came on in the last game against Derry, will join forces