HOPES ARE high that Westmeath's in-form centrefielder Martin Flanagan can take his place in the county's Leinster semi-final with Dublin on Sunday, June 29th.

Flanagan hurt his knee during last Saturday's Leinster championship win over Offaly.

It may have been a close-run thing, however, as the player was apparently ready to try to run off the damage until team doctor Gerry Flynn advised that he be replaced.

The initial prognosis was downbeat with fears that the player's cruciate ligament had snapped but a scan has revealed the extent of the damage is a slight tear, which has a good chance of healing in the three weeks before the eagerly-awaited reprise of last April's National Football League Division Two final, won by Tomás Ó Flatharta's men.

The hope is that rest and treatment will enable Flanagan to take his customary place at centrefield.

Meanwhile, Noel Hickey and Richie Power are rated as doubtful starters for Kilkenny's Leinster senior hurling semi-final against Offaly in Portlaoise on Sunday.

The experienced pair sustained injuries over the past week to add to manager Brian Cody's mounting casualty list.

Hickey damaged his groin on the bank holiday Monday, while Power tweaked a hamstring in training last Wednesday night.

The 2006 All-Ireland final man of the match, Aidan Fogarty, is another player struggling to be fit in time with a shoulder injury, while James Ryall is definitely ruled out with hamstring damage.

PJ Delaney is another who sat out training over the weekend but there is some good news for the All-Ireland champions as midfielder Derek Lyng took a full part in last Saturday's session as he approaches full fitness following surgery on an ankle problem.

Lyng will not start against Offaly but should make the panel, while Fogarty, Hickey and Power will be assessed in training this week before an official team announcement on Friday night.

Fogarty has participated in the running at training but he has not hurled for the past fortnight after damaging an a/c shoulder joint while on club duty.

Ryall did some light jogging on Saturday but he remains three weeks away from full fitness.

Team selector Martin Fogarty said: "We're getting a bad run of injuries at the moment but one man's misfortune is another man's fortune.

"Other players will have to step up, get a jersey and justify their positions on the panel.

"We're hoping a few of the injured players might come through but at the moment, they're in trouble."

Fogarty is wary of the Offaly challenge, stating: "They are a strong hurling county and there was nothing between us for 40 minutes later year. I have seen them a couple of times this year and they have really come on. We will have to be at our best."

In Ulster, Tyrone centrefielder Enda McGinley looks likely to miss Saturday's Ulster championship replay against Down at Newry, after suffering concussion in the first half of Sunday's drawn game.

McGinley shipped a heavy knock after just 15 minutes at Healy Park, and was yesterday undergoing scans.

In a further blow to manager Mickey Harte's bid to go through to the semi-finals at the second attempt, it was confirmed his nephew Davy has a broken nose. The wing back had to go off early in the second half but it's hoped he may be able to feature in the rematch at Páirc Esler.

The return of the Red Hand injury jinx also saw Colm Cavanagh limp off in the second half with ankle damage, and he too is a doubt for what will be the third championship replay between Tyrone and Down in six seasons.

Meanwhile, Down manager Ross Carr, who received a temporary reprieve from his sideline ban prior to Sunday's game, will learn later this week whether he will be banished to the stands for the rematch. His assistant, DJ Kane, will, however, be free to patrol the sideline following the completion of a similar suspension.

In the west, fears are mounting that All Star attacker Conor Mortimer will miss Mayo's Connacht football championship opener against Sligo on Sunday week after he sat out a key championship clash for his club at the weekend.

Mortimer has been troubled by a thigh injury for the last few weeks and was unable to play any part in the clash of his club Shrule-Glencorrib and Ballaghaderreen.

Ballaghaderreen triumphed despite an outstanding performance from Mortimer's brother Trevor.