Geraghty's Meath future still in doubt

GRAHAM GERAGHTY'S Meath future remains unclear following his continued absence from training.

The Meath panel trained last night in boss Eamonn Barry's home club of Walterstown but 1999 All-Ireland winning skipper Geraghty failed to show.

It's understood that the veteran forward and new boss Barry have held discussions about the controversial forward's current situation. But, as of last night, no positive outcome appeared to be in sight with all parties keeping tightlipped on the situation.

Geraghty had a bust up last Saturday week with Barry following a challenge match defeat to Antrim. The player has since failed to show for training and missed last Saturday's 2-20 to 4-6 defeat of Cavan though he was excused from this game because of club commitments with Seneschalstown.

Geraghty and Barry held a phone conversation late last week which led to further talks but an amicable return could not be brokered.

Meath face Laois in the league on Sunday having suffered an opening round defeat to Down before bouncing back with a victory over Armagh. Barry is likely to announce his team tonight and there could be a return for forward Daithi Regan who hasn't featured since their O'Byrne Cup victory over Dublin in January.

Laois are also expected to name their team tonight.

Meanwhile the Offaly team to meet Dublin in Division 1A of the Allianz NFL in Parnell Park on Saturday night shows two changes from the side which lost to Mayo.

Captain Karl Slattery returns from injury to fill the left half back position, while in attack James Coughlan will start at right full-forward. They replace Ross Connor and Thomas Deehan.

Dublin show six changes from the side that lost to Monaghan. Suspensions arising from the Tyrone game had already ruled out Ciaran Whelan, Kevin Bonner, Bryan Cullen and Alan Brogan, but injury has also forced a change at corner back where Niall O'Shea is out with a leg complaint.

Paul Griffin returns from club duty with Kilmacud Crokes to take O'Shea's place, while at midfield his club colleague Darren Magee comes in for Whelan.

Dublin have named an entirely new half forward line with Conal Keaney replacing Derek Murphy on the right wing, Jason Sherlock moves to 40 and Declan Lally to the left flank.

Cavan, narrow victors over Wicklow in the last round, are unchanged for their home game with Tipperary at Breffni Park. Tipp have no injury problems but are not expected to announce their team until tomorrow.

Kildare, who are away to Derry, have deferred selection until Saturday because of injuries to six players.

Galway will be without Padraig Joyce, Alan Kerins, Michael Donnellan, Finian Hanley and Sean Armstrong for their trip to Armagh on Sunday. Joyce is on holiday, while the other four are club-tied with All-Ireland finalists Salthill. However, Kieran Fitzgerald is expected to return to action after missing the draw with Laois because of a shoulder injury.

Unbeaten Mayo will be without left half forward Andy Moran for their game with Monaghan at Clones. The Sligo IT player damaged a shoulder in the recent Sigerson Cup competition.

Kerry continue to experiment with Eamon Fitzmaurice in attack for Sunday's NFL Division 1A tie against Fermanagh. The Finuge man, an All-Ireland medal winner at centre back, is named at centre forward for the second consecutive game. Paddy Kelly is at wing forward replacing Darren O'Sullivan while Kieran Cremin is named in goal ahead of Diarmuid Murphy - those the only changes from the victory against Cork.

The Kingdom feature nine players who started the All-Ireland SFC Final against Tyrone last September.

KERRY (SF v Fermanagh): K Cremin; M Ó Sé, M McCarthy, T O'Sullivan; T Ó Sé, A O'Mahony, M Lyons, D Ó Sé, K Donaghy; P Kelly, E Fitzmaurice, E Brosnan; C Cooper, D O'Sullivan, MF Russell.

CAVAN (SF V Tipperary): J. Reilly; M. Hannon, C. Collins, K. Fannin; P. Reilly, S. Brady, M. Brides; L. Mulvey, E. King; R. Flanagan, A, Forde, F. O'Reilly; J. O Reilly, E. O' Reilly, S. Johnston.

OFFALY (SF v Dublin): P. Kelly; K. Lynam, S. Casey, N. Grennan; B. Mooney, S. Brady, K. Slatter; A. McNamee, N. Coughlan; J. Reynolds, C. McManus, L. Mooney; J. Coughlan, P. Kellaghan, N. McNamee.

DUBLIN (SF v Offaly): S. Cluxton; P. Griffen, B. Cahill, D. Henry; P. Casey, C. Coggins, P. Andrews; D. Bastick, D. Magee; C. Keaney, J. Sherlock, D. Lally; D. O'Callaghan, S. Ryan, T. Quinn.