McIvor tight-lipped
“I’m aware of the speculation concerning the two but someone has jumped the gun a wee bit,” said McIvor. “The selectors and I are currently putting our panel together for the championship and it will be at least another fortnight before that is finalised.
“To be fair to every player, I’m making no comment on who is in or out until such time as I have spoken to those lads who have not made the cut. That is common courtesy.”
Devenney confirmed last night: “Brian has left the door open to me. He wants me to get match fitness and I’ll do that with my club, starting with a (Donegal Championship) preliminary round game this weekend. It’s just about getting games under my belt. I picked a groin injury the night before the Derry game but I’m now in good shape and I’ve told Brian I am fit, I just need to do more ball work.”
McIvor will definitely be without corner forward Len Thompson who sustained a broken jaw at the weekend.
The Naomh Chonail man picked up the injury in an accidental clash in a match against Dungloe and has had an operation in Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry. The talented corner-forward was just returning to fitness after a lengthy cruciate injury.
“We’re battered and bruised after playing four league games on the trot,” said Tipperary football coach John Evans, “and it will be late in the week before we can name a team for Sunday’s league final.”
“It’s a rarity for Tipperary football to have to play four crunch league games on successive weekends, and they have come with a price,” said the Kerryman.
“Chris Alyward has a thumb injury, Niall Curran a rib injury, Eamon Hanrahan (ankle) and Damien O’Brien is recovering from flu. To compound our problems, our top scorer Barry Brogan received a straight red card in the game against Waterford and is definitely out of Sunday’s final.”
Both Derry and Westmeath have postponed naming their team until tonight. They had players involved in last night’s Fitzgibbon Cup final — Denis Glennon (Garda College) and Mark Lynch (UUJ) — and the respective managers will be hoping both came through unscathed.
John Hudson continues to be an absentee for Wexford. He is suffering from a knee ligament injury and according to team coach Jason Ryan, has been ruled out of Sunday’s final against Fermanagh.
LIMERICK (MFC v Waterford): S Murphy (Templeglantine); T Barrett (Kilmallock), P Begley (Mungret), A O’Sullivan (Bruff); M Sheehan (Fr Caseys), D Bonfil (Monaleen), B O’Brien (Bruff), C Joyce-Power (Ahane); C Ryan (Pallaskenry), E O’Connor (St Marys/Sean Finns), D Kelly (Fr Caseys); S O’Carroll (Cappagh), S Garry (South Liberties), P McEnery (Fr Caseys).
WATERFORD (MFC v Limerick): D Kirwan (Kilrossanty); C Buckley (St Marys), A Seward (Clashmore), A McGrath (The Nire); J McGrath (do), N Walsh (Kilrossanty), T ÓhUallacháin (An Gaeltacht); S Ahearne (Stradbally), S Leahy (Ardmore); G Guiry (The Nire), D Phelan (St Olivers), N Skehan (Rathgormack); S Corcoran (St Saviours), C Moloney (Ballinacourty), K Murphy (Ardmore).
