The inter-county football career of dual athlete John Ryan appears to be hanging in the balance, with Offaly manager Tommy Lyons yesterday anticipating that the forward, who was apparently axed from the panel prior to Sunday's defeat against Galway, might well rejoin the squad in the run-up to the championship.

The Shannonbridge farmer, who won an All-Ireland medal with the Offaly hurlers last September and has played league this year in both disciplines, was last week dropped from the panel by Lyons for breaching one of the guidelines the manager had set down for his players.

"I don't see this thing as a big issue," Lyons said yesterday.

"I don't think it would be fair of me to say anything good bad or indifferent about the reasons why John was dropped. The only comment I am making is that it was because he didn't adhere to certain guidelines."

Lyons was reluctant to comment on speculation that Ryan had allegedly disobeyed a complete ban on alcohol imposed by Tommy Lyons, who was one of the first of many inter-county managers to implement the Nutron Diet to his training regime.

Sources close to Ryan have suggested that the player may have had a minimal amount of alcohol while attending a function as a member of the Offaly hurling squad recently. Ryan played for the Offaly team in the home win against Donegal a fortnight ago and had been dividing his time between hurling training in Banagher and football sessions in Gracefield until last week.

However, much to the surprise of the Offaly contingent in Ballinasloe on Sunday, the burly attacker watched the match from the stands.

Ryan is still very much part of the Offaly hurling panel and it is anticipated that he will line out for the team in Sunday's eagerly awaited clash against Clare in Ennis.

Even if Ryan is to serve the county's football cause again in the immediate future, no date has been set for his possible return. There is a possibility that the football squad may be travelling abroad in the coming weeks to prepare for the championship. Lyons would not comment on whether Ryan's return might precede such a trip.

Ryan was not keen to talk about his controversial demotion but is understood to be dismayed at the perception that he would blatantly contravene managerial rules.

Meanwhile, former Leitrim stalwart Mickey Quinn seems to be among the contenders for the post of manager of that county. The Leitrim county board are due to hold a number of interviews throughout the week and expect to name a successor to Peter McGinnity, who resigned last week, by next Tuesday.

Although Quinn has little experience at management level, his name is being touted around the county as a prospective candidate and it is thought that his appointment would rest well with the players. As well as being a permanent part of Leitrim team sheets for many years, he was also an integral member of the Aughawillan club, which dominated the local scene for the best part of a decade.

It is believed that Peter Prior, who managed the Leitrim minors to a Connacht title last summer, is also in the running. Other names mentioned are Ollie Honeyman, who served as a selector under John O'Mahony in 1994 when Leitrim took a Connacht championship and Sean Boyle, a Donegal man who guided Kinlough club Melvin Gaels to the Leitrim senior championship last year.

On Sunday, members of the Leitrim county executive took charge of the squad as they finally succumbed to relegation after a gallant showing against Donegal in Ballybofey. The county endured a tumultuous league season, which culminated in the departure of Peter McGinnity after an 18month stint, who resigned immediately to give his successor time to prepare for the championship.

Ulster Railway Cup manager Brian McEniff has listed James McCartan in the team to face Munster in Killarney next weekend. The current Down captain missed last year's campaign while concentrating on soccer.

His inclusion means that only two of the 1998 side that beat Leinster in the final are retained. Armagh's Paul McGrane returns but is named at half-forward instead of midfield while Peter Canavan once again lines out at full forward.

Fermanagh's Paul Brewster, an automatic choice on the provincial side for many seasons, has been relegated to the substitutes bench as McEniff has decided to pair Donegal's Jim McGuinness alongside Anthony Tohill at midfield. McGuinness played an influential role with Tralee, who successfully defended the Sigerson Cup earlier in the month.

McGuinness's inter-county team-mate Tony Boyle has been forced to cry off with an injury he picked up during Donegal's win against Leitrim last Sunday while Cavan full-back Terry Farrelly, another who might have expected to feature, was sent off against Monaghan. Also out with injury is Monaghan's Joe Coyle.