News round-up: In what has been a bad few weeks for pre-championship injuries, All-Ireland champions Tyrone were dealt another setback at the weekend with the news that footballer of the year Stephen O'Neill is considered doubtful for the first round match with Derry on Sunday week.
O'Neill sustained a hamstring injury playing for his club Clan na nGael against Loughmacrory and has been given a provisional recuperation period of three weeks.
"It's highly likely that he won't play although it's early days yet but he tore a hamstring and had to come off in the match," said Tyrone manager Mickey Harte. "He'll be seeing the physio for a more detailed assessment but it would be a major concern. Stephen would be prone to picking up that type of injury."
Harte said that he wouldn't be tempted to rush the player back given the circumstances that would make O'Neill the third member of the six forwards who started last year's All-Ireland final to be unavailable after the retirement of Peter Canavan and the broken leg sustained by Brian McGuigan.
"No. In the end this will be a medical decision. It has to be. Players sometimes con themselves that they're all right to play but there's no point in taking chances with something like this. Medical people have to have the final say."
The wave of misfortune has greatly disrupted the champions' defence of their All-Ireland and further bad injury news emerged with Owen Mulligan (damaged foot), Gerard Cavlan (groin strain) and defender Mickey McGee (hamstring) all picked up knocks in club matches at the weekend.
"It's disappointing but you're never sure of anything in sport," says Harte, "particularly injuries. Obviously you hope to stay injury free but you've no control over these things and it's up to others to rise to the challenge. I believe we've a good squad and that maybe this is a chance for others.
"It's not all doom and gloom. That's what squads are for. It's in the players' hands. I'm more of an optimist than a pessimist and like to look on the positive side."
Two years ago Tyrone's first All-Ireland defence was overshadowed by the sudden death of captain Cormac McAnallen, a trauma indirectly referred to by the manager. "Losing Brian McGuigan and now Stephen is certainly a setback but worse things have happened to us as a group. These are only temporary setbacks."
On a more positive note, Harte welcomed news of Enda McGinley, who made his comeback at the weekend several weeks ahead of schedule, and played two full games for Errigal Ciarán, showing no ill-effects from the medial and cruciate ligament injuries he suffered last October.
There was better news for Dublin whose in-form defender Paul Griffin had to leave the field injured during his club Kilmacud's first unsuccessful defence of their county title against Round Towers last week.
"He'll be fine," according to county selector David Billings. "He got a knock on his AC joint but it's only bruising. It's not a major problem."
Armagh will have virtually a full pick going into next weekend's replay against Monaghan at Clones. Manager Joe Kernan was forced into a late change when Aidan O'Rourke aggravated a back strain and his place at full back went to Tony McEntee.
First-choice full back Francie Bellew is the only absentee, as his shoulder injury will take another couple of weeks to heal.
That replay will take place in Clones on Saturday with a throw-in time of 5.30pm, presumably to avoid a direct clash with Munster's European Cup final against Biarritz in Cardiff.
Kevin Madden, the Portglenone and Antrim footballer, has had to retire from football on medical advice.
Madden had just returned to playing again after a serious knee injury which kept him out of the game for a year. He has been a star forward for his club and county for many years.
"Everyone in the county thanks him for the pleasure he given us all on the playing fields," ran a statement from the Antrim County Board. "We wish him well in the future."
Meanwhile the Vodafone players' of the month for April were announced in Dublin yesterday. Both awards are in recognition of the National League winning teams. Kerry's Darragh Ó Sé and Kilkenny's Henry Shefflin were honoured after major contributions to their teams' successes in the closing stages of NFL and NHL respectively.
Ó Sé was outstanding during the final win over Galway. Now 29 he has also won All Stars in 2000 and 2002 as well as all the game's major honours including three All-Ireland senior, two All-Ireland under-21 and three National League medals.
Shefflin, two years younger, holds three All-Ireland senior, one All-Ireland under-21, two Fitzgibbon Cup and three NHL medals.
He also won an All-Ireland colleges medal with St Kieran's in 1996 and was chosen as hurler of the year in 2002 and as an All Star, in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
