Gaelic Games News round-up: Pádhraic Joyce is an injury concern for Galway ahead of Sunday's Allianz NFL final at Croke Park. The full forward, who has been in scintillating form over the two semi-finals against Tyrone, hurt his toe when colliding with advertising hoarding at Pearse Stadium during last weekend's replay.
There were initial fears he had broken the toe, but X-rays yesterday revealed there was no break, only inflammation and heavy bruising. However, Joyce remains a doubt.
Galway won't be selecting the team until later in the week.
Kerry have a similar problem with their talented full forward Declan O'Sullivan still trying to shake off a hamstring injury that he picked up in a club match and aggravated in the semi-final win over Limerick. He remains manager Jack O'Connor's only injury doubt. The team is expected tomorrow night.
Meanwhile, John Healy, who kept goal for Mayo in a number of league matches this season, has taken issue with John Maughan's announcement that he had dropped the player from the championship panel, saying that he had decided to leave because he felt there was little prospect of playing.
In an interview with the Padraig Burns in the Western People, the Ballina goalkeeper is also critical of Maughan's phrase that Healy "bridged a gap" for the county in the injury-enforced absence of Peter Burke and his deputy David Clarke.
The Underdogs television concept will again feature a football team this year. Last year the reality football programme followed the trials and tribulations of assorted players who were whipped into shape for a challenge against Dublin last Christmas - a match they nearly won. This year the Underdogs football side will take on Kerry and trials for the TG4 side take place from the end of May.
There has been a change in personnel on the management team with Dublin's Brian Mullins opting out because of pressure of work. He will be replaced by broadcaster Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh who trained Dublin-based Kerry players during the glory days of the 1970s and 1980s.
Provincial trials will be held in May and June: (Leinster - Saturday, May 29th, Parnell Park Dublin; Ulster - Saturday, June 12th, Oliver Plunkett Park, Crossmaglen; Connacht - Saturday, June 19th, Hyde Park, Roscommon; Munster - Saturday, June 26th, Austin Stack Park, Tralee.) Anyone interested in applying for the Underdogs must do so on-line at: www.tg4.ie and click on the Underdogs logo on the home page.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
SATURDAY: Leinster U21 football final replay - Dublin v Kildare, Portlaoise, 2.00. SUNDAY: National Football League finals Division One - Galway v Kerry, Croke Park, 3.40, P McEnaney (Monaghan). Division Two - Down v Offaly, 2.00, M Daly (Mayo). Connacht SFC New York v Mayo, Gaelic Park New York, 2.30, M Collins (Cork). Leinster SHC - Carlow v Laois, Dr Cullen Park, 3.30, E Morris (Dublin); Westmeath v Wicklow, Mullingar, 3.30, F Smith (Meath). NHL Division Two, Group One - Down v Meath, Portaferry, 5.15, G Devlin (Armagh).
SCHOOLS FINALS, SATURDAY. All-Ireland Colleges finals (Extra-time if necessary). Senior B Hurling - Cistercian College, Roscrea v St Pat's, Maghera, Navan 12.30, A MacSuibhne (Dublin). Senior B Football - Portlaoise CBS v St Louis, Kilkeel, Navan 2.15 M Daly (Mayo). Senior 'C' Football - Pres Carlow v Mohill, Tullamore, 5.00, J Bannon (Longford). SUNDAY: ALL-IRELAND VS SHC final - St Brigid's Loughrea v St Brogan's College Bandon, Cashel, 3.30. MONDAY: Croke Cup, SH A final - St Raphaels, Loughrea v St Kierans, Kilkenny, Parnell Park, 2.00, J McDonnell (Tipperary). Hogan Cup SF A final - St Pats, Navan v St Patrick's, Dungannon, Parnell Park, 3.40, P McEnaney (Monaghan).
