GRAHAM GERAGHTY will miss Meath’s All-Ireland qualifier clash with Galway, prompting long-term concerns about his ability to shake off a serious Achilles injury.

ON THE road home from scouting Meath’s All-Ireland quarter-final victory over Mayo, Kerry’s management team of Jack O’Connor, Eamon Fitzmaurice and Ger O’Keeffe began swapping war stories from their respective scrapes with the Royal County.

THE Cork team to play Kerry in Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC replay in Croke Park shows one change in personnel and several positional switches from the team which earned that dramatic draw last Sunday.

Meath 0-13 Laois 2-13

Meath manager Eamonn Barry has deferred selection of his team for tomorrow's Leinster SFC quarter-final against Wexford (Croke Park, throw-in 2.10pm).

WEXFORD manager Paul Bealin has called on three newcomers as he relishes his championship debut against Meath in Croke Park tomorrow.

Two-time All-Star Ollie Murphy's championship summer could be at an end before he has even kicked a ball for the Meath footballers.

BRIAN LOHAN could make a comeback for Clare in Sunday's Allianz NHL semi-final clash with Limerick at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

Graham Geraghty seems certain to play some part in Meath's NFL Division 1B tie against Derry (Navan, throw-in 3.30pm) on Sunday after officially returning to training this week.

New Meath manager Eamonn Barry has omitted two-time All-Ireland winners Trevor Giles and Darren Fay from his first panel.

Meath 1-06 Cavan 1-08

Meath 1-6 Cavan 1-8

It's been so far, so good for Ulster sides in the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers. The trend continued with Monaghan becoming the first team through to the fourth round last night, and Cavan and Derry look set to join them later today.

Two of Meath's 1999 All-Ireland winning heroes combined to save the Royals' blushes in Carrick-on-Shannon this afternoon as they needed extra-time to edge past Leitrim - 1-12 to 1-8.

Leitrim - who have yet to win an All-Ireland SFC qualifier since their inauguration in 2001 - have just missed out on shocking Meath in normal time of their second round tussle at Carrick-on-Shannon.

Three-time All-star Trevor Giles is still waiting for his first start of the 2005 championship - and it will not happen at Carrick-on-Shannon on Sunday.

Antrim corner forward Kevin Brady has recovered from a foot injury to start against Meath in tomorrow's All-Ireland SFC qualifier first round clash with Meath at Casement Park (throw-in 3pm).

Dublin 1-12 Meath 1-10

Meath boss Sean Boylan sent a number of his injury concerns to Spain in an effort to boost their rehabilitation ahead of their Leinster SFC quarter-final against Dublin on June 5.

Meath veteran forward Ollie Murphy is struggling with injury ahead of the Leinster football quarter-final showdown against Dublin on June 5 after damaging his groin during a club tie at the weekend.

INSTEAD of a mere appetiser at Croke Park, we were served a veritable feast, with a twist in the tale that will rank alongside any of Croke Park’s surreal climaxes.

Never-say-die Monaghan lifted their first NFL title since 1985 when Meath substitute Mark Ward fisted an unlikely own goal to his own net in injury-time - sending the Royals into despair.

NIGEL CRAWFORD puts his roast beef bap down, takes off his overcoat and stretches his long legs under, in and around the tiny table in Searson’s pub on Dublin’s Baggot Street.

OWEN MULLIGAN has been ruled out of Tyrone’s Allianz National Football League clash with Cork on Sunday by a hamstring injury.

DARREN FAY has refused to rule himself out of Meath's Championship plans for this year despite speculation that Sean Boylan was all but resigned to planning without the Allstar full-back.

1999 All-Ireland winning captain Graham Geraghty made his first start for 18 months, but ended up on the losing side in today’s O’Byrne Cup quarter final as Kildare saw off Meath 2-11 to 1-11 in Newbridge.

YOU know you're in trouble when the five-year-olds start to question your chances. Underdogs captain Mairtin Ó Cinnéide was accepting a presentation from the under-fives he coaches in St Brigid's, Castleknock.

DOWN legend Mickey Linden has proposed a radical rule change to stamp out cynical and persistent fouling on forwards.

Westmeath 0-12 Laois 0-10

Meath are looking to kick-start their championship campaign against Fermanagh in the All-Ireland football qualifier in Enniskillen today, following their Leinster championship defeat to Laois.

Meath have made several changes from the side that lost to Laois in Leinster for Saturday's All-Ireland SFC qualifier against Fermanagh in Enniskillen.

Cork football star Philip Clifford made a timely return to the county first team in a challenge game against Meath ahead of next weekend's back door clash with Clare.

IT seems a lifetime ago since Meath were the side renowned for their never-say-die quality.

Laois 1-13 Meath 0-9

Former All Star Ollie Murphy is back in the Meath county team after a groin injury forced him to miss the season to date.

STEPHEN MacGABHANN will make his Championship debut with Meath in Sunday’s Leinster clash with Wicklow in Croke Park.

Sligo 1-14 Meath 3-7

THE GAA public might remain uncertain about the summer prospects of these two teams, but the way they entertained the 7,000-odd that braved the conditions in Navan, suggests they be discarded at your peril.

Meath 2-7 Armagh 2-7

THE Cork selectors have called up promising Carbery Rangers forward Kevin McMahon for Saturday night’s Allianz National Football League clash with Longford at Páirc Uí Rinn.

YESTERDAY morning on radio, Mick O'Dwyer jokingly quipped that he was beginning to wonder if Laois would ever win another game.