Kearns gives Limerick vote of confidence for Derry challenge

LIMERICK football manager Liam Kearns has stood by the team which easily accounted for Carlow in the All-Ireland qualifiers for Sunday’s meeting with Derry at Castlebar.

Kearns described that performance as one of the best since he took over five years ago.

Though Jason Stokes has recovered from injury, he has to be content with a place on the bench. He was introduced as a second half substitute against Carlow.

Should Limerick lose to Derry, indicators are that Kearns will stand down. However, he is thinking further ahead and believes that his team can make it through to the last 12.

“It is time that we beat one of the major footballing counties. We were so unlucky against Kerry on a few occasions that now is the time to show we have what it takes. Apart from Cork a few years back, we haven’t beaten any of the major powers.”

Sligo will be without Ken Sweeney, because of a hamstring injury, for their All-Ireland qualifier with Clare at Castlebar on Sunday, and there are doubts over Eamonn O’Hara and Brian Curran.

O’Hara is troubled by a damaged knee ligament, while Curran has a hamstring injury. Both players will undergo a fitness test tonight before the Sligo team is announced.

Louth, Clare, Limerick, Derry and Meath are also due to reveal their teams tonight but both Monaghan and Cavan have deferred selections until tomorrow night even though Cavan report no injury problems.

Monaghan, however, have concerns over midfielder James McElroy, who limped off with a calf muscle injury during the Wexford game, while half-forward Paul Finley is suffering from concussion at present.

LIMERICK (SFC v Derry): S O’Donnell; T. Stack, C. Mullane, J. McCarthy, P. Browne, S. Lucey, S. Lavin; J. Quane, J. Galvin; S. Kelly, M. Gavin, S. Buckley, C Fitzgerald, M. Reidy, M. Crowley.

OFFALY (MF v Laois) D. Bracken; K. Higgins, D. Larkin, D. Horan; J. Knight, R. Dalton, G. Grehan; C. Mahon, R. Conor; N. Darby, P. Duffy, J. Gorman; W. Mulhall, K. Flannery, K. Casey.

Meanwhile, after being without one for a few weeks, Meath has a hurling board again.

Three officers, chairman TJ Reilly, vice-chairman John Reilly and secretary, Enda Smyth, who had resigned from their positions because of problems over fixtures, have returned with the County Board accepting their decision to go back.

County chairman Fintan Ginnity said increased flexibility regarding fixtures will be needed and that games were being called off for the flimsiest of reasons.