Galway delay team announcement

Injuries to Diarmuid Blake, Ja Fallon and Derek Savage have forced Galway to delay their team announcement for tomorrow's All-Ireland SFC third round qualifier against Meath (O'Moore Park, throw-in 4pm).

Savage is the Tribesmen's biggest concern as he continues to nurse the hamstring injury he sustained when in action for his club Cortoon last weekend.

Galway boss Peter Ford will not reveal his team selection until shortly before the throw-in in Portlaoise, allowing all three some extra time to prove their fitness.

Savage, together with fellow forwards Fallon and Padraig Joyce, played a crucial role when Galway last met Meath in the championship - the Tribesmen won that encounter, the 2001 All-Ireland final, by 0-17 to 0-8 with Joyce tallying up ten points.

2001 saw Galway become the first team to lift the Sam Maguire Cup by coming through the back door system.

Changes are expected in the Galway attack for tomorrow's tie after they failed to score from play in the entire second half of the recent Connacht final, allowing Sligo to take a 1-10 to 0-12 victory.

Their third round opponents Meath are expected to name their starting team and substitutes tonight, with former All-Ireland winning captain Graham Geraghty, who is back in the fold after apologising for his training match bust-up with Stephen Sheppard, set for bench duty.

Since bowing out of the Leinster championship, Meath have notched qualifier wins over Down (1-10 to 0-8) and Fermanagh (0-11 to 0-9).