Weak London look to their youngsters

London once enjoyed a healthy choice of footballing talents, but times have changed. This Sunday, they host Roscommon in Ruislip for a Connacht championship tie with a team that manager Tommy McDermott has been forced to fill with debutants.

Only five players are still in place from the team that gave Galway a huge fright a year ago. Unlike regular county panels, the drop-out rate is extreme. And like most matters these days, the Celtic Tiger has had a say.

"There are definitely less players coming into London in the last couple of years," explains McDermott. "And those that do are very much career-orientated, and not so interested in playing football. The drain has been significant, so a lot of this team has been formed by trial and error."

The days when a year or two in London was one of the better employment options for a lot of Irish youngsters have all but disappeared. Yet with the average age of the current panel hovering around the 23-year mark, McDermott still has reason to be confident about the future.

"Some of the younger players are developing very well. They're willing to train hard and got a lot out of the run in the league. And we're very much looking forward to it, and hopeful we can give you guys something to write about on Monday morning."

Among the more experienced men to line out on Sunday will be Fermanagh's Barry McDonagh and Carlow's Tony Murphy. Last year, Dara Deering caused some major problems for Galway who, defending their All-Ireland championship, eventually won 1-18 to 1-8 after leading by just five points midway through the second half.

McDermott himself has been in London for some 12 years now. Formerly a full back in the Donegal team of the early 1980s, he knows as well as anyone that Roscommon hold the stronger hand. "They've had some major additions in the last year or so, with a strong midfield outfit. But it's a big game for us and we're going to play hard."

The Leinster Council yesterday released details of ticket sales for Sunday's football championship meeting between Meath and Offaly. On Saturday, tickets will be available from Portlaoise Office (11.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.) and Croke Park New Stand Office (11.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m). On Sunday, two mobile ticket outlets will be set up outside Croke Park from 1.30 p.m. All tickets are cash sales only (stand prices £12).