The Offaly football board meet tonight and will put the wheels in motion to appoint a successor to Tommy Lyons who, as anticipated, announced his intention to retire from inter-county management immediately after his team lost to Meath in Sunday's Leinster semi-final at Croke Park.

The current system in Offaly dictates that every managerial tenure is subject to review after each championship season but Lyons would have almost certainly retained the position had he indicated his interest. However, he said that the demands of the post had forced him to re-evaluate his priorities as the previous five months of management had dictated virtually every facet of his life.

"I think every one in the panel was aware that it was Tommy's decision to do this and while it might be tempting to try and persuade him to make himself available for another year, I think that everyone respects his decision and his reasons for doing it. I think there was a bit of relief there because the effort he had given this was just enormous," commented Eddie Fleming, who served as a selector to Lyons over the season.

Fleming said that players and mentors alike would deal with the fallout from Sunday over the next few days before making any decisions.

A sub-committee may be appointed to draw up a shortlist of contenders for the post. A spokesperson for the board said that there was a belief that Lyons's words had had a ring of finality about them and that he would not be open to reconsidering his plans.

Cathal Daly, one of the Offaly seniors who expressed the hope that Lyons might stay on, was one of the players to come off worst in what was a physical encounter against Meath on Sunday.

Daly tore ligaments in his shoulder and will undergo tests to determine the extent of the damage. Darren Fay, the Meath full back, was withdrawn with concussion late in the game but had made a full recovery. Although his recollection of the match was hazy afterwards, it is expected that he will be fit to train when the panel resume their schedule next week.

Armagh's corner forward Alan O'Neill, will however, have to endure a lengthier recuperation as the injury he suffered against Derry in Clones may force him out of contention for an Ulster final place. O'Neill left the field after just 13 minutes.

"It's unfortunate. He took a bang in the back of the neck from one of the Derry lads. There was nothing malicious in it. But he had a similar problem wih his back before and I remember it took time for him to shake that off so, yes, there is a real possibility that he may not be ready for the Ulster final," said Armagh manager Brian Canavan.

O'Neill was brought to hospital in Monaghan immediately after departing the field and travelled to Dublin yesterday for further scans. His attacking colleague Diarmuid Marsden showed further signs of shaking off the groin strain which has proven a nuisance to him since he sustained it in the run-up to the National League semi-final replay against Dublin.

Tyrone, who face Down in the remaining Ulster semi-final, select their team tonight after training. Down will delay selection until tomorrow evening at the earliest. Defender Simon Poland is definitely out of contention after dislocating a shoulder at training last week but midfielder Greg McCartan continues to stride towards full fitness and may feature at some point in Sunday's match.

It will be August before the position on who will manage the Sligo football team for the coming season is clarified. Although the county board is anxious that Mickey Moran should continue in the position, he has made it known that he will ponder his future over the coming days. The county board meet this week to review the year's progress and will convene again in August after Moran has made known his decision.