A LOCAL wag suggested in Birr last night that it would be most inconsiderate this week for anyone to subject Eamonn Cregan and his Offaly hurling co selectors to a rendering of the musical ditty "them bones, them bones".
Offaly's serious injury problems ahead of naming their team for Sunday's crucial National Hurling League away meeting with Waterford in Dungarvan relates primarily to the brittle parts of the anatomy.
Daithi Regan, who has endured the most traumatic week of his career after mysteriously collapsing in training and spending 24 hours in hospital, is one of the main casualties.
Says manager Cregan: "It seems that Daithi got a wallop in some match, resulting in two bones meeting across the chest that caused the pain. Needless to say, he is unlikely to be named for Sunday's match. We will be looking at him tonight, when we will name our team.
Brendan Kelly has bones in two toes broken and Billy Dooley seems to have chipped a bone in an ankle. The only non bone injury is that of Kevin Martin, who remains out of action due to long term hamstring trouble.
"It is highly unlikely that we will be figuring in the latter stages of the League," says Cregan. "We must win to stay up, a draw would be no good."
Galway manager Mattie Murphy will be attempting to convince his players that direct admission into the semi finals on April 28th, by beating Kerry in Killarney on Sunday, would be a lot more desirable that playing a quarter final on April 14th against, as yet, unknown opposition.
Murphy makes two changes, one enforced, from the side that beat Waterford, as well as a number of positional switches. Corner back Gerry Keane sustained a nasty ankle injury in a club match last Sunday and is expected to be out for some time. Conor O'Donovan, who replaced wing back Michael Donoghue in Dungarvan, is retained at right wing back, with Gerry McInerney moving back to right full back and Tom Helebert moving over to the left.
Liam Burke will have to be patient while the broken bone in his right hand, sustained in Durgarvan, takes time to mend.
Peter Kelly is reintroduced into a reshuffled attack as a result. Joe Rabbitte moves out to the right wing and Kevin Broderick switches to the left. Galway can also get direct entry through to the semi finals should Tipperary account for Kilkenny at Nowlan Park.
"Anybody who goes down to Killarney expecting a soft touch would be foolish," warns Murphy.
Kerry, who have had the distinction of beating All Ireland champions Clare, make two changes. Martin McKivergan comes in to join Jerome O'Sullivan in midfield, instead of the demoted Joe Walsh, while Pat O'Connell replaces Padraig Teehan in attack. Tony Maunsell moves from full forward to the right wing.
Wexford, who hold joint leadership of Division Two, are quietly confident of dealing with the Meath challenge in Trim, despite losing the corresponding tie last year.
Martin Storey is called up to lead the attack, replacing Paul Finn. With Wexford and Laois on 10 points, and Antrim and Limerick each on eight, this Sunday's final round games will be crucial in deciding the two teams which qualify for the knock out stages, and the three teams for promotion.
Antrim, who have decided to soldier on without the services of the Dunloy players who figured in last All Ireland club final, hope to steal a march on Laois in their favourite Casement Park on Sunday.
Antrim's decision to persist without the Dunloy players, a reckless one in the view of some, has startled even the Laois camp.
Laois leave two places open in attack for this game. If fully fit, Seamus Cuddy will lead the attack, while the left corner spot could go to either Fionan O'Sullivan or Mick O'Hara.
Limerick manager Tom Ryan regrets the fact that he has had to plan without his star attacker Gary Kirby for Sunday's vital clash Down at the Gaelic Grounds. Kirby is getting married on Saturday.
"There was never any question of Gary fielding on Sunday, despite all the speculation and misleading hype in the local media," said Ryan. "We have known for weeks, and accepted the fact, that we would not have Gary for Sunday's match.
