Limerick sweat on Lucey

LIMERICK have been dealt a cruel blow as an injury leaves Stephen Lucey extremely doubtful for in the lead-up AS the countdown Sunday’s Allianz NFL final against Westmeath in Croke Park (1.30 pm).

Lucey broke his small finger in Sunday’s NHL tie against Dublin at Kilmallock and football team manager Liam Kearns said: “We could have done without this. We’ll need everybody for this one. It’s a huge game for us with the championship against Cork just around the corner.

“I would be confident of beating Westmeath if we had Lucey available; now I’m not so sure. It’s early days and maybe he’ll be able to play with the fingers strapped. We’ll wait and see.”

It is the latest in a list of injuries for the dual player and Lucey had only just returned from a serious ankle injury sustained in the Sigerson Cup campaign with UCD.

Westmeath also have injury problems. David Mitchell is definitely out after breaking a leg in the semi-final win over Longford while Paul Conway and Michael Ennis are still out of action with long-term injuries. Conway broke a leg against Limerick in round three of the league, while Ennis received a hairline fracture of the leg in the same game.

Westmeath defeated Cork in the Division Two final two years ago and went on to enjoy a great Leinster championship campaign. They were the only team to beat Limerick in this year’s league and will be hoping for a repeat.

There is an air of anticipation in Laois for Sunday’s Division One NFL final against defending champions Tyrone at Croke Park (3.30 pm). A lot of water has gone under the bridge since the county’s last league final success against Monaghan in 1986, and Mick O’Dwyer’s arrival has sent expectations soaring.

O’Dwyer will pick from a full squad tonight after Chris Conway came through weekend training showing no ill-effects from a groin strain.

Tyrone’s NFL title-chasers have one eye on the bigger picture. Back-to-back league crowns would be a huge bonus for a county that had never won a national title until 12 months ago. But Mickey Harte’s Red Hand stars will also be playing for Championship places as the game offers a final chance to nail down a starting spot for the big Ulster derby against Derry a fortnight later.

“With everybody coming back to full fitness and a full-strength squad, it’s definitely a day for playing for championship places,” midfielder Sean Cavanagh said.

Cavanagh played just 20 minutes of last year’s league final against Cavan and knows a big performance is required if he is to get a chance to put in 70 minutes of championship action on May 18. He must first convince manager Harte that he is the man to partner Cormac McAnallen at midfield this Sunday.

The big Moy man knows that midfield will be a crucial area against a Laois side which has a formidable pairing in Pauric Clancy and Noel Garvan.

“I thought they got slightly the better of Armagh at midfield. They were getting up and down the pitch, end to end, strong and great fielders. It will be a tough task and we’ll have to work very hard to try and match them.”

Cavanagh started the season at corner forward, where his game suffered from isolation before he grabbed his chance to play at midfield when it finally came along.

“It’s a dream come true to be playing midfield, that’s where I always wanted to be,” he said.

“After I got my chance, I’ve managed to hold on to it so far, but I know I have to keep performing because there’s an awful lot of competition for places, with the likes of Cormac McAnallen, Ryan Mellon and Kevin Hughes around.