Gaelic Games News: Brian Whelahan has indicated he won't be ready for tomorrow week's All-Ireland hurling qualifier against Clare. The Offaly veteran injured his hamstring in Sunday's Leinster hurling final and today undergoes a scan to diagnose the extent of the damage.
"I can't see myself playing. I can feel it's quite bad. On the day I was feeling a bit stiff but didn't think there was anything unusual about that. But when I overstretched I knew on the last step what had happened."
Whelahan has already said this will be his last senior intercounty championship season.
Meanwhile, the draw for the inaugural Tommy Murphy Cup was made in Croke Park yesterday. A disappointingly low entry was confirmed when only five counties went into the hat. Cavan were the last eligible county to withdraw, citing the pressure of club fixtures.
The outcome will be a disappointment for GAA President Seán Kelly who has promoted the idea of a competition for counties knocked out in the early rounds of the All-Ireland qualifiers.
The one quarter-final will be played on the weekend after next between Clare and London. The winners will play Louth in the semi-finals together with Antrim-Sligo on August 7th and the final will be played on the same Croke Park double bill as the first All-Ireland football semi-final. The winners will travel to the US to take on Boston in a tournament match.
The GAA has announced sports equipment company O'Neill's will be the official sponsors of the inaugural Continental Youth Championships, which will take place in New York this month. Teams from cities across North America and Canada will participate in coaching sessions and games at the State University of New York, on July 23rd -25th. Organisers expect over 1,000 boys and girls from San Francisco, Chicago, Detroit, Boston, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Ottawa, Toronto and New York will take part at levels ranging from under-10 to 18.
Tickets are on sale for the Leinster football final between Laois v Westmeath, on Sunday week at Croke Park. Tickets ordered on the GAA's website, www.gaa.ie, before 11 a.m. Wednesday 14th July, will be sent out in the post.
