Championship KO for Meath's Murphy

Two-time All-Star Ollie Murphy's championship summer could be at an end before he has even kicked a ball for the Meath footballers.

The 30-year-old Murphy, who missed the Royals' recent National League campaign due to a groin injury, pulled a hamstring in last night's challenge match defeat by Monaghan - plunging his Leinster and All-Ireland SFC involvement into serious doubt.

Murphy, whose 2005 season was plagued by groin, hamstring and knee injuries, is certainly out of Meath's Leinster championship opener against Division Two champions Louth on May 14.

The Carnaross corner forward came on as a second half substitute in Slane, but was forced off within minutes of the restart.

Graham Geraghty, another of the Royals' heroes from their 1999 and 2001 All-Ireland wins, maintained a watching brief as the hosts ran up a wides tally of 16 and Monaghan claimed a 2-13 to 1-12 victory.