Limerick wait on O’Connor ahead of replay clash with Tipp

LIMERICK are awaiting fitness reports on full forward Sean O’Connor before finalising their side to play Tipperary in Saturday’s Munster SHC semi-final replay with Tipperary in Thurles.

O’Connor aggravated a hamstring injury during last weekend’s thrilling drawn encounter.

Both full back Paul Curran and corner forward Paul Kelly are once again expected to be out of action for Tipperary. Curran, because of a broken bone in his hand and Kelly due to a quad muscle strain.

Both team are due to be named tonight and it seems odds on that former wing back Declan Fanning will continue at full back for Tipp and that Lar Corbett will be in from the start on this occasion.

Wexford boss Paul Bealin has received a tremendous boost ahead of Sunday’s Leinster SFC quarter-final clash with Louth at Croke Park.

Ace forward Mattie Forde has declared himself fit for the game having been troubled with a niggling ankle problem.

The injury had forced Forde to miss out on much of the earlier training sessions while his playing activity was restricted in the club championship and the county side’s recent challenge outings.

But Bealin has revealed: ‘Mattie is now 100% fit and looking forward to the game. He will be there even if we have to wrap him in cotton wool over the remainder of the week.

However Bealin will be without corner-forward PJ Banville who has been ruled out with ankle ligament injury received in a club soccer game.

Sligo boss Tommy Breheny is hoping that former Allstar Eamon O’Hara will pass a fitness test and be available for Sunday’s Connacht SFC semi-final against Roscommon.

The inspirational midfield is struggling with a groin injury and is rated extremely doubtful for the Hyde Park clash with their neighbours.

Sligo will be without defender Tony Taylor who is out for the season with a knee injury, while the versatile Padraig Doohan is also doubtful.

Dublin have named the same 15 that started against Meath in the drawn encounter for Sunday’s Leinster SFC quarter-final replay in Croke Park.

Donegal forward Michael Hegarty appears unlikely to start Sunday’s Bank of Ireland Ulster SFC semi-final against Tyrone at Clones .

Kilcar club-man Hegarty has been unable to train since undergoing a minor knee operation recently.

However, Ciaran Bonner has recovered well from having his tonsils removed.

Tyrone will definitely be without Tommy McGuigan and Niall Gormley while Stephen O’Neill and Gerard Cavlan are also fitness doubts.

McGuigan broke a bone in a wrist in a recent club game while Gormley suffered a broken jaw while playing for Trillick against Derrylaughan.

The pair made their debuts in the first round win over Fermanagh, scoring a combined total of seven points.

O’Neill and fellow forward Cavlan are troubled by knee injuries but while both players didn’t train over the weekend, hopes are rising that the duo will be fit.

Brendan Devenney didn’t start for Donegal against Armagh and he is the obvious replacement to come into the team if Hegarty is ruled out.

Kevin McMenamin is another Donegal forward pushing hard for a starting role.

DUBLIN (SFC v Meath): S. Cluxton; D. Henry, R. McConnell, P. Griffin; P. Casey, B. Cullen, B. Cahill; C. Whelan, D. Magee; C. Moran, S. Ryan, D. Connolly; C. Keaney, A. Brogan, T. Quinn.

WEXFORD (SFC v Louth): J. Cooper; C. Morris, P. Wallace, B. Malone; A Morrissey, D. Murphy, N. Murphy; R. Stafford, E. Bradley; C. Deely (capt), R. Barry, A. Flynn, C. Lyng, P. Colfer, M. Forde.