GAELIC GAMES: Despite the recent inclement weather, all four games of the O'Byrne Cup Leinster football tournament remain scheduled for tomorrow, including a repeat of last year's rather forgettable final between Wicklow and Carlow. Ian O'Riordan reports.

That game is scheduled for 2.0 p.m. in Aughrim, although it may be moved, pending an inspection of the pitch. The first round games also include Louth versus Westmeath (Drogheda, 2.0) and Kilkenny against Wexford, to be played at the novel venue of Skeoghvosteen (1.0), some 15 miles outside Kilkenny.

Much of the attention, however, will fall on Portlaoise where Laois play Longford (2.0) as Mick O'Dwyer starts his tenure as Laois manager. With O'Dwyer sure to be eager to make a winning start it promises to be the most competitive encounter.

The McKenna Cup in Ulster has also been revived after a year, and the opening game between Fermanagh and Tyrone takes place tomorrow at Enniskillen (2.0), just 24 hours after the Tyrone team return from their holiday in the Canaries.

The annual Dublin Bluestars football and hurling challenges are also to go ahead tomorrow at the Thomas Davis club in Tallaght, with the hurling at 12.45 and the football at 2.15.

Meanwhile, it has also been confirmed that Maurice Fitzgerald has been back training with the Kerry football panel. Though not part of the current team holiday in South Africa, he joined the panel for their opening training sessions before Christmas and has confirmed his commitment to manager Páidí Ó Sé for the coming season.

Fitzgerald hasn't played for Kerry since appearing as a substitute in the All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Meath in September 2001.