Meath boss weighing up options

Meath manager Colm Coyle has a forward conundrum to consider ahead of Sunday's Leinster SFC quarter-final replay against Dublin.

The Croke Park clash, which has a 4.15pm throw-in, will see Coyle back patrolling the sideline after serving an eight-week touchline ban for making comments to a match official during a National League game.

A three-time All-Ireland winner as a player, Coyle was forced to sit in the stands for Meath's recent Leinster championship games against Kildare and Dublin, with selectors Dudley Farrell and Tommy Dowd filling in for him at pitchside. His ban expires at midnight on Thursday.

But of a more pressing concern for the Meath management is who they select in their forward lines for this weekend's replay. Eight players are vying for the six starting slots, with the Royals' league top scorer Brian Farrell available again following suspension and 'super sub' Cian Ward, who kicked five crucial placed balls against the Dubs, also in contention.

Ward may be kept in reserve again, with Farrell almost certain to return given his exploits in the league. Duleek's Peter Curran looks like being the player to make way.

The Meath panel spent the weekend in Donegal and while Dublin will name their team for the replay tonight, Royals boss Coyle could decide to delay his team announcement until later in the week.

Forward pair Jason Sherlock (wrist) and Kevin Bonner (thigh) have both been nursing injuries of late and while they both took a limited part in a training match at the weekend, Dublin manager Paul Caffrey is unlikely to risk either player on Sunday.

However, Kilmacud youngster Mark Vaughan could get the nod to start the replay as the Dubs continue their hunt for a reliable free-taker.