AROUND THE COUNTIES
Ormonde quits Tipperary panel
TIPPERARY: Babs Keating's hurling squad has suffered another blow with the news that Paul Ormonde has quit.
Ormonde's withdrawal couldn't come at a worse time for Keating as he is already without corner-backs Diarmaid Fitzgerald and Paul Curran for Saturday's big game against Cork.
It is understood that Ormonde has decided to leave the squad having grown frustrated by a lack of championship action. The Loughmore-Castleiney clubman left Monday night's training session and it now appears that Benny Dunne's latest championship role will be at left corner-back, having finished there in Tipp's last two games.
Ormonde, who won an All-Ireland senior medal in 2001, has not figured in any of Tipp's three matches against Limerick, Offaly and Dublin.
Scans confirm Clare fears
CLARE: Gerry Quinn's season could be over after scans revealed serious damage to the defender's right knee.
Tests have confirmed that the star centre-back suffered a medial ligament tear during Saturday's win over Galway and faces up to six weeks on the sideline.
Quinn travelled to Galway for a scan on Monday when the full extent of the injury was revealed. He will miss out on Saturday's final qualifier against Laois and will play no part in the All-Ireland quarter-final, almost certainly against Limerick.
Even if the Banner get to the final four, Quinn is highly unlikely to feature.
Clubs facing a further delay
KILDARE: While John Crofton looks set to keep changes to a minimum for Saturday's SFC qualifier at home to Louth, the other main talking-point among Lilywhites is when the county championships are going to start.
They were pencilled in for the weekend after next, but Kildare's CCC (Competitions Control Committee) was meeting last night amid mounting speculation that the first round would be postponed until the middle of August.
McIver silent on Sweeney saga
DONEGAL: Manager Brian McIver is keeping the cards close to his chest over whether Adrian Sweeney will return to the fold for next Saturday's qualifier away to Westmeath.
Sweeney was not in McIver's team for last Saturday's game against Leitrim and did not travel with the squad to Carrick-on-Shannon.
McIver has declined to comment on the Sweeney situation as he says that he has received no contact from the player.
The manager and his selectors are keeping their fingers crossed that Barry Dunnion will make a quick return to action after he was a late withdrawal due to injury last weekend.
Leading attacker Colm McFadden remains out due to suspension, while Ciaran Bonner is still injured.
Clarke makes Louth claim
LOUTH: Eamonn McEneaney has selection headaches ahead of this weekend's qualifier clash against Kildare.
Darren Clarke staked his claim for a starting spot when he kicked two crucial points after being sprung from the bench during the one-point win over Limerick, while the Louth boss also welcomes back Dessie and Ray Finnegan into the fold after the latter's wedding.
Hanley joins casualty list
MAYO: John O'Mahony has fresh doubts over a couple of key players leading into this weekend's trip to Derry.
Ciaran McDonald's injury plagued season looks set to continue, although he will be given every chance to recover from a troublesome hamstring problem, while rookie centre-forward Pierce Hanley is trying to shake off a knock sustained in the win over Cavan.
There is some good news for O'Mahony as he will have Pat Harte available after completing his four-week suspension.
Muldoon back for Mayo clash
DERRY: Manager boss Paddy Crozier is expected to be able to pick from a full strength squad when Mayo visit Celtic Park.
Enda Muldoon should be fit again after over coming the bout of 'flu that ruled him out of last weekend's win over Armagh, while centre-forward Conleth Gilligan picked up a leg injury but is also expected to be available.
County teams share stage
WESTMEATH: The county's hurlers and footballers are both in action on an attractive double-bill in Mullingar on Saturday.
Seamus Qualter's hurlers take on Kerry in Christy Ring Cup at 5.0, while Tomás Ó Flatharta's footballers face league champions Donegal at 7.0. The football boss has an injury concern over Damien Healy who must undergo a fitness test on a troublesome hamstring later in the week.
