DUBLIN have deferred the selection of their team to play Meath in Sunday's Leinster football championship final until 12 noon on Thursday at the earliest. The decision was made last night because of the number of injuries in the camp affecting key players.

At their training ground in Santry last evening, manager Mickey Whelan was confronted with the most threatening series of injuries he has experienced since taking over the job last year.

Joe McNally's hamstring damage presents the biggest problem but his likely replacements, should he fail to beat the clock and be ready for Dublin's biggest match of the year so far, are also bothered by injuries.

Charlie Redmond is the least of Whelan's problems for it seems now that he will be ready following his first hamstring injury but Jason Sherlock (hamstring), Mick Galvin (Achilles tendon) and Niall Guiden (back) are also nursing injuries.

Full forward McNally is not expected to be fit and Sherlock would have been the obvious choice to start in his place.

Damien O'Brien, who was replaced at half-time in the semifinal against Louth, and Paul Clarke are the likely replacements in attack but Whelan feels he has to wait in the hope that time will be the greatest healer.

The seriousness of the situation is reflected by Whelan's unusual decision to call the squad together for a third successive night this evening.

Meath were in a much happier position after training last night when manager Sean Boylan was able to announce the team that beat Carlow and Laois in their earlier matches.

This means that goalkeeper Conor Martin is fully recovered from injury.

Cork and Clare do battle for the Munster under-21 title at Semple Stadium, Thurles, tomorrow evening and a classic game of hurling is anticipated when Cork's win over Tipperary in the semi-final puts them in prime position against a Clare side that had to work to overcome Waterford Sean Og O Hailpin is expected to have a big influence at the heart of the Cork defence.

In Connacht, Mayo and Galway meet again for a provincial title, this time in the under-21 football championship. The time is fixed "for Tuam on Friday evening, with a 7.0 start.

Mayo could be in line for the big Connacht treble, for they line out against Sligo in the replay of the minor football final in Sligo on Sunday.