Moran never lost faith in Derry's ability

Fresh it seems from their 11-point win over Wexford last Saturday evening, the Derry footballers were back training last night hoping to carry on their new-found momentum for at least another week.

Drawn against Limerick for their fourth day out in the All-Ireland qualifiers, the team now heads to Hyde Park on Saturday looking to continue a most remarkable turnaround.

It's just over 10 weeks since they hopelessly collapsed against Tyrone in the preliminary round of the Ulster championship. Manager Mickey Moran was adamant yesterday he never lost faith in his team. All they needed to do was start playing to their true potential.

"We always believed we had the ability," said Moran. "We do have good players, and we always believed we were better than that day. It was just one of those games. We saw the same thing happen to the Clare hurlers in their first game against Waterford, and they too seem to have worked their way back nicely.

"But I do think some of the stuff said about us after that Tyrone game was totally out or order. I'm not saying we're world beaters, but we can still improve a little more.

"We're there now one game away from an All-Ireland quarter-final, but we're not getting carried away. We know Wexford had a lot of players in the first year of championship football, and playing Limerick will be another step up."

Moran also believes that Limerick will be able rise from the ashes of Sunday's Munster final defeat to Kerry.

It will mean a third successive weekend of action for the Limerick team, and yet Moran expects nothing less than full-on championship football.

"Limerick are a top-class team, and I think everyone would agree that they came very close to beating Kerry the last day. They have some excellent players. And I don't necessarily agree that beaten provincial finalists will always struggle if they come out a week later.

"I think that the level of training and preparation that goes in these days, players should be able to recover. I know they were so close to beating Kerry, and that can work both ways, but I expect they'll look forward to it as a game they can still win."

Moran took his players to the swimming pool in the immediate aftermath of Saturday's 2-16 to 2-5 win at Parnell Park. There are injury concerns over Johnny McBride and Kevin McGuckian, but he should be in a position to name a full-strength team.

"I'm just disappointed for the players that this game wasn't set for Croke Park," added Moran. "Obviously, the powers that be believe there are more important teams than us. I don't see why we couldn't have been put in with Dublin and Roscommon."

For Laois and Westmeath, meanwhile, a similar race against time is under way to get players fit and ready for their Leinster football final replay - which has been confirmed for Croke Park this Saturday, with a 6.15 p.m. throw-in.

The main injury concern for Laois is Ross Munnelly, who retired in the 0-13 draw with an ankle and shoulder injury. While nothing is broken, he'll need all six days of rest and recovery.

Westmeath will be able to call again on Rory O'Connell, originally suspended for 12 weeks, but who last week got a High Court injunction that cleared his way to play on Sunday.

"As far as we are aware, there was no time put on the injunction," said Westmeath selector Paddy Collins, "and if that decision took precedence for last Sunday, we assume it would for this weekend, until we are told to the contrary."

O'Connell, though, is one of four Westmeath players carrying injuries from the drawn game, and yesterday had an X-ray to ensure there was no serious damage on wrist strain.

Dessie Dolan also had an X-ray on an injured thumb, while Derek Heavin (ankle) and Michael Ennis (hamstring) are also concerns ahead of next Saturday.

Collins also questioned the 6.15 p.m. start: "We'd feel it's a little late. Someone is going to be arriving home very late as the victorious team, and I don't think it's ideal to be arriving home in any town in the early hours of the morning. But look we'll be there for 6.15 p.m."