Westmeath await decision on Wilson injury

WESTMEATH have left the centre half forward berth vacant for Saturday’s televised Division 1A clash with Cork under lights at Páirc Uí Rinn.

Regular leader of the Westmeath attack Fergal Wilson is undergoing intensive physiotherapy treatment on an injured calf and a decision of his fitness could be taken tonight at training.

The side shows one change in defence from the team that lost by a point to Meath in last Sunday's O'Byrne Cup final in Navan. Full back Damien Gavin, who was replaced in the first half by Brian Morley, is excluded, with wing back Donal O'Donoghue moving to full back and Morley taking over the right half back berth.

Dublin are due to select their side tonight but manager Tommy Lyons said yesterday that because of a number of niggling injury problems the side may not be finalised until just before the start. Injury-hit Wexford have drafted in two debutantes for their Allianz League Division one debut against Armagh in Crossmaglen on Sunday. The Slaneysiders will be without their star forwards Mattie Forde and John Hegarty. Kieran Kennedy and Darren Foran replace them, both making their first competitive start for Wexford. With both Forde and Hegarty missing, experienced wing-back Leigh O'Brien will skipper Wexford in their historic match.

Kildare give competitive starts to 2002 minor captain Michael Foley from Athy at midfield and his 2003 counter-part Moorefield's Ross Glavin at full forward for Sunday's Division Two clash with Derry in Newbridge.

Sarsfield's clubman Morgan O'Sullivan son of former Kildare star of the '70s Ray O'Sullivan gets his first NFL start at right half forward, having lined out at centre forward against Westmeath in the O'Byrne Cup.

After a six years self-imposed exile Martin Delaney returns to the Laois colours for next Sunday's league clash with Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds.

Clare, Roscommon Meath and Galway have also delayed selecting their sides until tonight because of the involvement of several of their players in Sigerson Cup action. Clare play Roscommon at Cusack Park, while Meath are at home to Galway in Navan. Louth, who open their campaign with a home tie against Antrim are awaiting fitness reports on the injured J.P. Rooney before finalising their side.

WESTMEATH (SF v Cork): A. Lennon; J. Davitt, D. O'Donoghue, F. Murray; B. Morley, D. Kilmartin, D. Heavin; R. O'Connell, D. O'Shaughnessy; F. Dardis, A. N. Other, A. Mangan; J. Fallon, P. Martin, D. Glennon.

KILDARE (SF v Derry): E. Murphy, B. Lacey, D. Hendy, A. McLoughlin, E. Callaghan, G. Ryan, K. Ennis, A. Barry, M. Foley, M. O'Sullivan, J. Doyle, R. Sweeney, P. Brennan, R. Glavin, T. Fennin,

WEXFORD (SF v Armagh): J. Cooper, C. Morris, P. Wallace, N. Murphy, D. Breen, D. Murphy, L. O'Brien, W. Carley, D. Fogarty, A. Morrissey, J. Hudson, K. Kennedy, S. Doran, P. Colfer, D. Foran.

DERRY (SF v Kildare: B. Gillis; S. M. Lockhart, K. McCloy, R. McCusker; P. Wilson, R. Lynch, P. Kelly; E. Muldoon, F. Doherty; C. O'Brien, C. Gilligan, C. Moran; P. O'Neill, G. McGonigle, C. Mullen.