News Round-upSligo senior football manager James Kearins has informed the county board that he will not be involved in the preparation of the county side for the Tommy Murphy Cup.

Kearins believes it is not in the best interests of Sligo football to take part in the secondary competition - for which only five teams have entered - stressing participation in club championship matches during the summer would be more beneficial.

The manager said the fact that only five of 17 counties eligible to take part had decided to enter was an indication of how the competition was viewed elsewhere.

County board chairman Joe Queenan said he was "very disappointed" that Kearins would not be in charge of the team, but he was adamant that entering the tournament was the right decision. County secretary Tommy Kilcoyne was secretary of a working group that proposed a competition for weaker counties at this year's annual congress.

Kearins' future as Sligo manager is not expected to come before the county board until September but there must now be some doubt about his future at the helm.

This weekend's Connacht senior football final between Roscommon and Mayo at McHale Park is a sell-out.

The capacity at the Castlebar ground is 35,000 and there will be no tickets for sale on Sunday at the venue.

Down defeated Antrim in the Ulster under-21 hurling final yesterday at Casement Park, Belfast. Down eventually ran out winners by 22 points to 1-17.