Hughes out despite injury fears easing
Hughes was taken to hospital after being stretchered off early in the second half, following a collision with Kevin Cassidy. But tests showed that the injury is not as serious as feared. Nevertheless, he is unlikely to play any part in Sunday’s Ulster derby meeting with All-Ireland champions Armagh at Omagh.
With the Sigerson Cup on in Cork this weekend and one northern university almost certain to the final, several Ulster counties could be without a number of key players.
Seán Cavanagh, an instant success when moved to midfield following the enforced departure of Hughes, will be on Sigerson duty with UUJ, casting doubts over his availability for the league champions as they are expected to make it to Saturday’s final.
Cavanagh is one of several Tyrone players involved in Cork, along with John Devine, Enda McGinley, Cormac McGinley and Mark Harte.
Declan McCrossan, who left Coalisland on crutches last Sunday after pulling a hamstring, is out of the game, while Cormac McAnallen, who has not made a league appearance this season, continues to struggle with a knee injury.
Tyrone, Armagh, Down, Derry, Fermanagh and Donegal have deferred naming teams until later in the week due to the Sigerson Cup.
Examinations and injuries have forced Waterford manager Denis Walsh into making a number of changes for Sunday’s Division 2B game away to Monaghan.
Into the side come Jimmy Sheehan at full-back, John O’Reilly at right half-back and Eoghan Walsh at corner-forward.
Midfielder Andy Hubbart is ruled out through injury, while Richie Hennessy who came on as a substitute against Derry, retains his place at left half-back.
Positional changes see Richie Power move from centre-forward to partner Karl O’Keeffe in the middle of the field. Gary Hurney switches from corner to centre-forward, while another of last Sunday’s subs, Martin Walsh, is named at wing-forward.
Wexford senior hurling and football selectors have agreed that dual players, Rory Mallon, Paul Carley and Tomas Mahon will play with the footballers on Sunday against Tipperary because of the importance of the fixture.
Victory for the Model County would see them qualify for the knock out stages of the league.
With their hurlers and footballers playing at Wexford Park, the likelihood is that the three players will be subs on the hurling team. The football team will be announced after training tonight.
In the enforced absence of injured centre-forward Bernard Collins, the Cork senior football selectors have called up exciting St Finbarr’s prospect Jim O’Donoghue for next Sunday’s glamour Allianz NFL clash with Dublin at Parnell Park. Collins, the versatile Castlehaven performer, sustained a shoulder injury in the second half of last weekend’s victory over Galway, which saw him replaced by O’Donoghue.
This is the only change from the side that registered a one-point triumph over Galway, thanks to a last-gasp winner from James O’Shea, who retains his position at right corner forward.
LAOIS (SF v Sligo): F. Bryon; T. Kelly, C. Byrne, J. Higgins; D. Rooney, K. Fitzpatrick, D. Conway; P. Clancy, N. Garvan; C. Conway, I. Fitzgerald, M. Lawlor; B. McDonald, H. Emerson, D. Delaney.
WATERFORD (SF v Monaghan): P. Houlihan; M. Crotty. J. Sheehan. K. Coffey; J. O’Reilly. E. Rockett. R. Hennessy; K. O’Keeffe. R. Power; C. Power. G. Hurney. M. Walsh; E. Walsh. J. Hearne. M. Power.
CORK (SF v Dublin): K. O’Dwyer; N. O’Donovan, A. Lynch, A. O’Connor; S. Levis, E. Sexton, N. O’Leary; N. Murphy, G. Canty; B. J. O’Sullivan, J. O’Donoghue, J. Miskella; J. O’Shea, M. O’Croinin, C. Crowley.
