Sherlock to undergo late fitness test

DUBLIN SFC FINAL: JASON SHERLOCK will this evening undergo a late fitness test to determine whether he'll start for St Oliver Plunkett-Eoghan Ruadh in the Dublin football final at Parnell Park tonight.

It's a first final appearance for the Navan Road club, who meet five-time winners Kilmacud Crokes, and Sherlock will be understandably keen to make the starting line-up (7.45 throw-in).

While Sherlock has already won three Dublin county medals with Na Fianna, tonight's game marks the first chance of such glory for several more well established Dublin footballers, including the Brogan brothers Alan, Bernard and Paul, and Ross McConnell.

Sherlock picked up a leg injury playing for Plunketts in their semi-final win over Ballymun Kickhams last Monday week, scoring 1-1 before exiting on 43 minutes. Bernard Brogan was the key forward that day, kicking 0-7, and having missed out on the International Rules tour to Australia because of his commitment to this game, his motivation for victory will be particularly high.

Crokes originally snatched a draw in their semi-final with reigning champions St Vincent's, before beating them convincingly in last Sunday's replay.

Their last title came in back-to-back fashion in 2004-2005 and with Mark Vaughan, Pat Burke, Mark Davoren, Brian Kavanagh and Darren Magee in excellent form, the Stillorgan side will start as marginal favourites.