TOM RYAN has borne All-Ireland disappointment with admirable stoicism and faces another crucial test of his nerve on Sunday when Limerick's hurlers take on Tipperary in Thurles.

Ryan hams managed to instill a similar attitude among his players and, having had a number of injury worries during the National League campaign, is in the comfortable position of being able to select his team tonight from a full panel of players - with one possible exception.

Mike GaIligan pulled up with a hamstring strain during a training session last Saturday evening and is a very doubtful starter, but Tom Ryan is now more interested in the Tipperary line-out for what will be an intriguing match with a place in the All-Ireland quarter-finals as the minimum prize.

It is not that he is all that enamoured of the new set-up which will allow the beaten finalist in Munster and Leinster back into the competition. "When they were changing the situation I believe they should have gone the whole way and gone for a full-scale open draw.

"Anyway we have a new situation now and we will have to see how it works out. Personally I am happy enough with the new National League set-up, but I have reservations about the new championship arrangement."

Looking back on Sunday's meeting of Clare and Cork he reckons that Cork "took their foot off the pedal" at an important stage of the match. "Clare are a very strong side and their experience told in the end. They made some very shrewd switches. Dave Fitzgerald made a very important save at a time when they match could have turned for Cork and Clare then got away for the crucial goal which put paid to Cork's chances.

"I would say that Clare kept their eye firmly on the championship from the beginning and didn't allow the National League campaign to divert their attention. I believe their training programme was geared to the championship from the start. They have reaped their reward and they are in the quarter-finals of the All-Ireland series no matter what happens."

Ryan now has his own eye set on a similar prize at least. "Our first job is to beat Tipperary on Sunday. I would be happier to be playing them in Limerick of course, but we are well used to Thurles and we have no fears of going there. It is a great place to play hurling and the pitch is always immaculate.

"The forecast is for some rain during the week, but that is ideal as the grounds are very hard at the moment and we will be content so long as Sunday is dry and calm. If that is so it will be a perfect day for hurling and we are looking forward to it.

"Apart from Mike (Galligan), we are in very good shape. We have prepared well and the morale of the side is good. Tipperary are a very strong side and we know what to expect. They have a point to prove after last year. They have a strong defence and John Leahy is back to his best form. He is a marvellous hurler when he is on his game. He is both a worker and a player who can inspire people around him and he is in better shape as far is fitness is concerned than he has been for some time.

"Michael Cleary is another who can lift his game when it is needed, so we have no illusions. It will be fought to the last minute. Len Gaynor has put a lot of steel into the team and they will be firing on all cylinders.

"I'm sure there will be a huge crowd. Interest in both counties is very high and I'm sure that as well as the supporters of both counties a lot of Clare people will travel to run the rule over the team they will meet in the final. It promises to be one of the great hurling occasions." he says.

Tipperary will also name their team tonight. There is some concern in Tipperary about the fitness of John Leahy and Paul Delaney. Leahy had a calf injury, but it is reported to be responding to treatment, Delaney is recovering from a knee injury and may not be fit in time. Michael Ryan is the likely beneficiary while Aidan Flanagan is another expected to re-appear in the county jersey after suspension.

On the football front, Meath's selectors are worried about the condition of Martin O'Connell and Paddy Reynolds, both of whom are recovering from injury. The good news is that Tommy Dowd has recovered from a hamstring injury. Paul Curran is a certain starter for Dublin, but Paddy Moran is almost certainly out.

John McEntee is a doubtful starter for Armagh in their Ulster championship match against champions Tyrone, while John Rafferty, Mark McNeill and Neil Smyth are all nursing injuries.

Tyrone expect to be able to call on Gerard Cavlan and Fergal Logan, who have been back in full training after injury, but Pascal Canavan has a broken finger and may not play. Brian Dooher is a likely starter.

Work on a new 1,200-seater stand at Markievicz Park, Sligo, will start early in July. The stand, costing in the region of £200,000, is expected to be completed in time for the concluding stages of the National Football League.

The development, which also includes the provision of a new press box, will make the ground, which was opened in 1954, one of the most modern in the province.