League decider venue decision expected next week

A DECISION on whether the winners of Sunday week’s dead-rubber NHL Division One tie between Galway and Cork will be awarded home advantage for the league decider between the counties on May 1 is unlikely to be made until next week.

Cork and Galway have qualified for the final before the last round of league games are played which means their upcoming league clash in Pearse Stadium is of no consequence.

There have been calls to allow the winners of that game to have home venue for the final in order to ensure a competitive edge to the game on April 18. But it now looks as if any decision will not be made until next week and if the proposal is turned down, Semple Stadium in Thurles looks the most likely venue for the clash.

Meanwhile Mayo attacker Enda Varley is a major doubt ahead of their crucial NFL Division 1 clash against Cork next Sunday. Varley aggravated a hamstring injury with his club Garrymore last Saturday evening.

Both Alan Dillon and Ronan McGarrity are likely to be in contention yet Aidan Kilcoyne, Barry Moran and Tom Cunniffe are likely to be absent due to a lack of match fitness. Cork trio Alan Quirke, Anthony Lynch and Graham Canty could come back into contention for selection having been sidelined with injuries for the duration of this season’s league campaign.

Cork will welcome back attacker Donncha O’Connor after he missed their last two games through suspension, but Colm O’Neill (hamstring), Aidan Walsh (hip) and Nicholas Murphy (hamstring) are all injury doubts. It is unlikely that young attacker Ciaran Sheehan will be available due to his involvement in an U21 club football final next Sunday evening.

Monaghan will have experienced defender Damien Freeman available for their crunch Division One relegation clash against Kerry next Sunday.

The Magheracloone defender returned to squad training last night. Fellow defender Colm Greenan is ruled out after picking up an infection to a knee wound that forced him to miss last Saturday’s Ulster U21FC semi-final against Cavan, while Dermot McArdle is a doubt with a hamstring injury.

Experienced Donegal duo Rory Kavanagh and Christy Toye are set to return to county training this week, but are unlikely to play a part in next Sunday’s decisive NFL Division Two tie against Armagh in Letterkenny.

Both players have been sidelined with long-term injuries, but Sunday’s clash which will decide who gains promotion along with Down to Division One next season has come too soon in their recovery. Definitely out for Donegal is Eoin Waide but manager John Joe Doherty is hopeful that both Brendan Boyle and Barry Dunnion will shake off their injury problems to be available for selection.

Doherty will be keeping his fingers crossed Michael Murphy and Leo McLoone both emerge unscathed from tonight’s Ulster U21FC decider against Cavan in Brewster Park, Enniskillen.

Armagh manager Paddy O’Rourke will have to plan again without injured pair Kevin Dyas (quad) and Ronan Clarke (hamstring) for the game, but remains hopeful that they will be back in harness for the Ulster SFC opener against Derry on May 16.