Westmeath relief as Glennon returns

WESTMEATH secretary Pat Lynagh has revealed Denis Glennon’s return to inter-county training on Tuesday night came as a result of a couple of meetings between the player, manager, Tomás O Flatharta, and county board officials.

Glennon had not attended training since the conclusion of the league, in which he was Westmeath’s leading scorer, and also failed to turn up for a challenge match against Cavan last weekend.

Lynagh welcomed the return of Tyrrellspass speedster.

“There were a bit of work issues to be sorted out and we’re absolutely delighted to have him back. He’s a talented fella.”

Indeed, with Westmeath not due to open their championship campaign against either Longford or Wicklow until June 14, there is cause for much optimism in the Lakeside camp despite the recent relegation from Division 1.

“Dessie Dolan, Donal O’Donoghue, Fergal Wilson, David O’Shaughnessy and Damien Healy are all back now and Martin Flanagan will be back soon hopefully, so we should have them all for the championship” Lynagh enthused.

M Carlow introduce three newcomers to championship football for Sunday’s opening round of the Leinster SFC against Louth at Parnell Park.

Kieran Nolan, Shane Gannon and Shane Redmond are the new kids on the block and they have been selected at right corner-back, right half-back and left half back respectively.

Both Derek Hayden and David St Ledger, who had been on the injured list, have been passed fit to play and will fill their regular centre-forward and full-forward positions.

Louth are awaiting fitness reports on defenders Padraig Rath and Paddy Keenan before finalising their team tonight.

Both Down and Fermanagh, who meet in the first round of the Ulster SFC at Enniskillen on Sunday, have delayed selecting their sides.

Down have injury concerns about ace forward Benny Coulter, who missed the concluding game in the League because of a foot problem.

Former All Star full back Barry Owens is out of the Fermanagh team following a cruciate ligament operation but team captain Mattie McGrath is likely to play after recovering from a knee injury.

Derry manager Damian Cassidy has called teenage student Carlus McWilliams into his championship panel ahead of next weekend’s opener against Monaghan.

The Ballinascreen clubman, currently studying for his A-Levels, was full-back on the 2007 minor side that lost the All-Ireland final and captained the St Pat’s, Maghera MacRory team earlier this year.

His performances at club level, including a strong showing against Castledawson in last weekend’s championship encounter, have earned him a surprise call-up.

McWilliams has been called in as defensive cover as injury looks set to rob Cassidy of both Niall McCusker and Sean Martin Lockhart, though the Banagher man’s ankle injury has been responding to treatment in recent days.

Also called in is Lavey’s Cailean O’Boyle, who kicked 1-6 in his club’s shock win over Ballinderry in the championship.

However, he will miss the Ulster championship opener at least after picking up an ankle injury in the opening minutes of that game.

Newbridge’s Danny Mulholland, who impressed while playing against Derry in the McKenna Cup for UUJ, has also been pulled into the squad, while Slaughtmanus forward Gavin McShane is recalled after being cut following the McKenna Cup.

Goalkeeper Johnny Curran is still a member of the Tyrone squad, contrary to reports on Tuesday which stated he had been dropped by manager Mickey Harte.

Curran’s name was omitted from the championship squad released to the media due to an administrative error.

The Coalisland man, who played in a number of the Red Hands’ NFL ties this season in the absence of the injured Pascal McConnell, is one of the three goalkeepers in the 36-man panel.

McConnell is close to full recovery from a knee injury, and is included, along with Curran and John Devine.

CARLOW (SF v Louth); J Clarke; K Nolan, J Hayden, S Myers; S Gannon, B English, S Redmond; J Murphy, W Minchin; B Murphy, D Hayden, JJ Lovett; E McConnell, D St Ledger, M Carpenter.

DERRY CHAMPIONSHIP PANEL:

Goalkeepers: S McGuckin, B Gillis, J Deighan

Defenders: S Martin Lockhart, K McGuckin, D McBride, N McCusker, K McCloy, C McWilliams, J Keenan, G O’Kane, B Óg McAlary, C McKaigue, P Cartin, B McGoldrick, SL McGoldrick

Midfielders: P Bradley, F Doherty, J Diver, J Conway, E Muldoon.

Forwards: G McShane, P Murphy, E Lynn, B Mullan, P Young, B McGuigan, J Kielt, C O’Boyle, E Brown, E Bradley, M Lynch, S Bradley, P Bradley, D Mulholland.