Cancun to Clonmel will test champions
A trip to Clonmel for a McGrath Cup game against Tipperary four days after returning from a holiday in Mexico is unlikely to fire the imagination and quicken the pulse of the players, but it's an opportunity for coach Jack O'Connor and his selectors, Ger O'Keeffe and Johnny Culloty, to examine how deep Kingdom resources run.
The management will meet tonight to select a side for the clash, with the likes of midfielders, Mike Quirke, Seamus Scanlon, Donal Daly and Kieran Donaghy hungry for action.
Kieran Cremin will play in goals, promising defender Padraig Reidy may get a run in defence, while Declan Quill is likely to be prominent in attack.
The 'senior' players who missed out on All-Ireland success, like Seamus Moynihan and Darragh Ó Sé will not be considered, and the Vodafone Allstars who travel to Hong Kong next week will also be excused.
"It's not ideal, given that we only returned from Mexico on Wednesday," said Ger O'Keeffe, "but there are a number of players looking for match practice either those coming back from an extended lay-off or bidding to make an impression."
Meanwhile, Kildare make a number of changes for Sunday's O'Byrne Cup semi-final against Laois in Portlaoise.
Mick Wright comes in at right full back in place of Padraig Mullarkey, who damaged a shoulder against Meath with Damien Hendy moving to full back.
Aaron Flood of St Laurences gets his first competitive start at wing back.
There is a vacancy at right half forward pending fitness report on David Lyons who lined out there against Meath and Ballykelly's Derek McCormack, while flu victim John O'Donoghue, scorer of eight points in the first round against Dundalk returns to top of the left.
Wexford hurling manager Seamus Murphy is expecting a decision this weekend on Mattie Forde's involvement with his squad.
The football Allstar has been approached with regard to a dual role for the county, but Murphy admitted: "I feel there will be an announcement one way or the other this Saturday but it's my belief that Matty will announce to stick with football for the initial stage of the league at least.
"It would also stop all the media frenzy. I will also be meeting with (football manager) Pat Roe to discuss both Matty and Redmond Barry's positions."
A former All-Ireland winning player and manager has taken charge of the Mayo ladies' footballers.
Con Moynihan, a Mountbellew-based garda sergeant, and native of Ballaghaderreen, was ratified at last night's meeting of Mayo County Board, following his recommendation by an interview panel that was put in place last October to find a replacement for Finbar Egan, who stepped down after Mayo's loss to Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final replay.
KILDARE (O'Byrne Cup v Laois): E Murphy; M Wright, D Hendy, A McLoughlin; A Flood, M Foley, K Ennis; W Heffernan, K Brennan; A.N. Other, J. Doyle, M. O'Sullivan; R. Glavin, R. Sweeney, J. O'Donoghue.
