Sport

Murphy boost for Meath

The Meath manager, Sean Boylan, was told yesterday that his talented forward Ollie Murphy expects to be back in training within…

By SEAN KILFEATHER
Wed Sept 01 1999 - 01:00

The Meath manager, Sean Boylan, was told yesterday that his talented forward Ollie Murphy expects to be back in training within 10 days and be available for selection for the All-Ireland final against Cork.

Murphy had to be carried off the pitch in the first half of the match against Armagh on Sunday after he had wrenched his left knee as he turned to challenge an Armagh opponent.

Murphy was seen to be in considerable pain and taken to the Mater Hospital. Fortunately the ligaments in his knee were merely bruised and, after close examination, medical advice was that a week or 10 days of rest would allow him to recover sufficiently to resume training for the final.

In the meantime only five of the Meath first 15 will not be involved in weekend action. The five are Enda McManus and Nigel Crawford from Dunboyne, Darren Fay from Trim, Paddy Reynolds from Walterstown and Ollie Murphy from Carnaross.

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Other members of the squad will be in direct action in the closing stages of the club league system. Nigel Nestor from Blackhall Gaels will be facing Meath team-mates, John McDermott and Trevor Giles from Skryne in a crucial match on Friday night in Dunshaughlin.

Elsewhere, a major dispute has broken out in Sligo, surprisingly, involving hurling. Tubbercurry's football team has been removed from the county championship after failing to turn up for a championship match against Shamrock Gaels last Friday night at Markievicz Park.

They had pleaded for a postponement on the grounds that 11 of their players were involved in the county hurling final against Craobh Rua the following Sunday.

The activities committee of the county board decided this week that Tubbercurry should be removed from the football championship and fined £2,000. The activities committee decision to expel the team will either be ratified or rejected at tonight's monthly meeting of the county board. Tubbercurry last won the Sligo senior football title in 1991.

Weekend Fixtures

Saturday

All-Ireland Under-21 Championship Semi-Final: Galway v Tipperary, Tullamore, 3.30.

All-Ireland MF Championship Final (Replay): Dublin v Down, Navan, 3.30, D Joyce (Galway). Extra time if needed.

All-Ireland IH Championship Semi-Final: Kilkenny v Cork, Dungarvan, 3.30, M Wadding (Waterford).

All-Ireland Spl Minor C Championship; Mayo v London, Castlebar, J McGrath (Westmeath).

All-Ireland women's SF Semi Finals: Mayo v Meath, Parnell Park, 2.0; Followed by Monaghan v Waterford, 3.30.

Sunday

All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Final: Kilkenny v Tipperary, Croke Park, 3.30, A Derham (Dublin). Preceded by: All-Ireland J Championship Final: Cork v Derry, 1.40, J Morrissey (Tipperary).