Brady opts out of Mayo team

David Brady has withdrawn from the Mayo team to face Dublin tomorrow in the National Football League. Named in the team by manager John Maughan, the Ballina centrefielder said yesterday he was injured and wouldn't be playing again until his club's All-Ireland semi-final in a fortnight.

"I'm concentrating 100 per cent on the club at the moment and I can't give 100 pre cent if I'm thinking about the county," he said. "When Ballina's involvement in the club championship comes to an end, then I will make my decision. Maybe if I was 10 years younger and free from injuries I would be able to do both.

"I haven't met with the management or squad since last September. I think it's a bit unfair and unprofessional to be named in a team when I'm not involved at the moment."

Maughan has stated he had made numerous attempts to contact the player, who he said hasn't returned his calls.

Dublin also have to make one enforced change to their announced team with Peadar Andrews coming in for Barry Cahill. Tickets for the match at Parnell Park have been sold out.

Wexford's team to face Armagh has no place for dual player Redmond Barry who scored three goals for the hurlers in last weekend's win over holders UCD in the Walsh Cup. But he is named on the bench.

Kilkenny have made four changes from the team that beat Dublin last week for Sunday's Walsh Cup hurling semi-final against Offaly in Birr. Ken Coogan, Sean Dowling, Jimmy Coogan and Eddie Brennan replace Mark Phelan, David Herity, John Maher and Aidan Fogarty, respectively.

The National Football League in women's football was launched yesterday by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O'Donoghue.

The competition will be divided into seven different divisions with 41 teams. Divisions One, Two and Three are divided into A and B sections of six teams, with a stand-alone Division Four featuring emerging counties like Wicklow, Carlow and Kilkenny.

All 32 counties are competing in this year's competition.

MONAGHAN (SF v Carlow): S Duffy; G McQuaid, J Coyle, C Flanagan; R Ronaghan, D Clerkin, J Ward; J McElroy, F Duffy; D McArdle, R Woods, S McManus; T Freeman, D Freeman, S Gollogly.

ANTRIM (SF v Louth): P Murray; K Murray, C Brady, D gault; S Doyle, T Scullion, S Kelly; J Quinn, M McCarry; K Close, K Brady, C Gallagher; J McAleese, B Herron, K Madden.

DERRY (SF v Meath): B Gillis; K McGuckin, N McCusker, G O'Kane; F McEldowney, SM Lockhart, P Kelly; J McBride, F Doherty; P McFlynn, C Gilligan, C Moran; P Murphy, Paddy Bradley, Paul Bradley.

KILKENNY (SH v Offaly): J McGarry; M Kavanagh, N Hickey, J Ryall; K Coogan, J Tennyson, JJ Delaney; M Comerford, S Dowling; J Coogan, D Lyng, E Brennan; R Power, J Hoyne, H Shefflin.