Even though the GAA intends to get moving seriously on its National Football League campaign with a total of 16 matches on Sunday, several team managers will have to wait until later in the week before deciding on their line-ups because of the number of midweek Sigerson Cup matches.
All-Ireland champions Galway, who travel to play Cork in Pairc Ui Rinn, have several panel members engaged with various third level sides and will delay selection of their team until later in the week - possibly until Sunday morning. Among those involved are John Divilly, Derek Savage and Declan Meehan who line out for UCD against Queen's University in Belfield today.
However, Cork have named their side although they, too, have many Sigerson hopefuls involved in today's matches. For a start, seven members of their squad will be playing or on call for Sigerson duty. The include four of the named side who will, in fact, be playing against each other.
They are Des McAuley and Donagh Wiseman who will line out for UCC while Paul Clifford and Oliver Regan will be facing them for the Cork Institute of Technology.
McAuley makes his debut for Cork in goal where he takes over from Michael Maguire. McAuley, from the Bantry Blues team, is regarded as a very bright prospect although he may not yet be ready to replace the vastly experienced Maguire. Eoin Sexton fills the centre half back position while Micheal O'Sullivan from Carbery Rangers also makes his first league appearance at right half forward.
Tyrone, who welcome neighbours Donegal to Omagh, may continue with recent experiments in their line-out. In recent trial matches they have played Ciaran McBride, a former forward, at midfield and Brian Doohan, a former forward, in defence.
Donegal have doubts about the fitness of John Gildea who has had an operation in his knee while Noel Hegarty and Brendan Devenney had flu during the week, although both are expected to be fit to play in Healy Park. Sigerson Cup duties will also affect Donegal's Jim McGuinness, Barry Ward and Eamonn Reddin who are involved with the IT Tralee side.
Armagh will be keeping a close eye on five of their first-team panel when Queen's play UCD in Belfield today. Justin McNulty, Enda McNulty, Barry O'Hagan, David Wilson and Aidan O'Rourke will all be in action and it will depend on what transpires in that match whether or not they will be available for the match against Offaly in Crossmaglen.
In the meantime, Armagh clubs Cullyhanna and Mullaghbawn stand to lose two of their prominent players to the Dublin club Na Fianna in the near future. It is understood that Des Mackin from Cullyhanna and Kieran McGeeney from Mullaghabawn have applied to the Armagh County Board for permission to transfer to the Dublin club where they work, although they will still be available to their home county side.
Meanwhile, the young Cavan forward Peter Reilly is reported to be recovering from a cruciate ligament injury and hopes to be back to full fitness by the time Cavan are due to meet Derry in the Ulster championship in June.
Raymie Ryan has been ruled out of Tipperary's clash with Galway in the Oireachtas Cup senior hurling semi-final at Athenry on Sunday. Ryan broke his thumb in the South East League final win over Waterford last Sunday and will be out of action for some weeks. Tipperary will name their team after training tonight.
Tom Brewster, the Queen's University and Fermanagh player, has won the Ulster GAA Writers' Merit Award for January following outstanding displays with Queen's in the Ryan Cup semi-final against UCG and the final against Garda College last month.
Queen's, who meet UCD in the Sigerson Cup at Belfield today, can call on Cormac McAnallen, the Tyrone All-Ireland minor winning captain of last season. After two bookings he was sent off against Garda College but is still eligible to play today. "It's the same as in the National League. Two bookings don't automatically suspend a player," said Brewster.
It's a game Queen's must win according to Brewster: "It's a game that we really need to win since we are hosting the final stages of the Sigerson next month. It wouldn't do if we were missing from the action. With UUJ beaten last week the competition would look bad without a Belfast team involved," he said.
Cork (SF v Galway): D McAuley; M O'Donovan, R McCarthy, A Lynch; D Wiseman, E Sexton, M Cronin; M Murphy, L Honohan; M O'Sullivan, P O'Mahony, A Dorgan; P Clifford, J Kavanagh, O Regan.
UCD (SF v Queens): C O'Connor (Cork); N Maguire (Sligo), I Clarke (Dublin), P Andrews (Dublin); D Breen (Wexford), J Divilly (Galway), B O'Donovan (Wicklow); N Crawford (Meath), D Hannify (Longford); D Meehan (Galway), C McManus (Offaly), C McGrath (Meath); D Savage (Galway), J Lynch (Kerry, P Walsh (Mayo). Subs: G McGill (Donegal), N Collins, (Laois), D Courtney (Cavan), M O'Keeffe (Dublin), P Farrell (Leitrim), N Meehan (Galway).
