Longford likely to gain home venue for Laois tie

GAELIC GAMES:Leinster secretary Michael Delaney has indicated that the provincial quarter-final between Longford and Laois is more likely to be played in Longford.

The provincial council in conjunction with the Offaly County Board will decide on Friday whether the scheduled venue of Tullamore will be in a position to host the fixture on June 3rd.

Longford won a toss with Laois for home advantage should work on the terrace at the Offaly venue not be completed.

"The feeling is that it'll be a week or two too early for Tullamore," said Delaney.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Tyrone's Brian McGuigan will miss the county's championship opener against Fermanagh this Sunday. The unfortunate Ardboe footballer sustained an eye injury that will require surgery on the retina tomorrow.

Manager Mickey Harte had hoped to have the accomplished centre forward in the panel for Sunday. McGuigan had been trying to accelerate his recovery from a broken leg by getting some match time with his club.

It's the second setback he has suffered during his rehabilitation. After making his club return eight weeks ago, problems with an ankle emerged and he had to have further surgery.

He suffered the leg break in a club game more than a year ago, and has not played for Tyrone since the 2005 All-Ireland final.

There was, however, better news for Galway manager Peter Ford as centre back Diarmuid Blake looks likely to be fit. Blake had been troubled by a hamstring injury but he has made a strong recovery and was expected to take a full part in training yesterday evening.

Ford and his selectors will, however, have to plan without versatile defender Alan Burke and midfield contender Paul Geraghty, both of whom are out with hamstring problems.

The Galway team will be announced following training on Thursday night.

Midfielder John Galvin has been ruled out of the Limerick senior football team to play Cork in the opening round of the Munster Championship, at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, next weekend.

Galvin, a member of the under-21 team which reached the All-Ireland final in 2000, tore ligaments in a recent league game and was unable to take part in Limerick's bonding session in Mayo. Jason Stokes, who missed the entire league campaign because of a leg injury, is also unlikely to be considered by manager Mickey Ned O'Sullivan.