Meath boss expects injured duo to be fit

Meath manager Colm Coyle is confident that both Anthony Moyles and Darren Fay will be passed fit to play in Sunday's All-Ireland SFC semi-final against Cork.

Former All-Star full-back Fay is understood to be the Royals' biggest worry as he tries to recover from the knee injury he sustained late on in the quarter-final win over Tyrone.

But the Trim clubman, who has been receiving intensive treatment all week, has been making good progress. Team captain Moyles has returned to training following a hamstring injury and is also on track to face the Rebels.

Seamus Kenny has given Coyle some extra options in defence with his recovery from the shoulder injury he picked up in last month's qualifier win over Galway. He could to restored to the half-back line with Chris O'Connor and Cormac McGuinness' places coming under pressure.

Meanwhile, ahead of Meath's most important game for a number of years, Coyle has been buoyed by the offer of a two-year extension to his position by the Royals' County Board.

The tradition in Meath has long been to award a manager a one-year contract, even long-time manager Sean Boylan had to undergo the process of seeking another year in charge every autumn.

Meath County Board chairman Brendan Dempsey explained: "This (latest) decision gives the management and the players a bit of stability.

"Even if they were to lose on Sunday (against Cork), Colm could come into the dressing room afterwards and say: 'okay we’ll be back training in two months for next year’, or whatever."

The Meath County Board have also reappointed senior hurling manager John Andrews and junior football boss Kit Henry for the 2008 campaign.