INJURY and suspension have forced Down selectors to delay until tonight in naming their minor team to face their Dublin counterparts in Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final.
Left corner-back is still under discussion after the previous incumbent Colm Murtagh was sent off late on in the Ulster final replay victory over Donegal.
Impressive full-back Brendan Grant of Mayobridge has a calf niggle and there is another problem further up the field, in the left corner, with Grant’s club colleague Ronan Sexton troubled by a groin injury incurred in the game which won the Liam Murray Cup for the Mourne county after a 12-year gap.
The Mayobridge lads are expected to shake off their problems, and indeed have been participating in training sessions, so the number four jersey is the greater concern.
In the absence of Glenn clubman Murtagh the contenders for a direct replacement include Gary O’Hare of Kilcoo and his namesake, Mayobridge’s Ronan, along with Darren O’Hanlon of Ballymartin, the latter having forced his way onto the panel late in the campaign.
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MARK Carroll suffered a few anxious moments last night before finally claiming his berth in Saturday’s World Championship 5000m final.
The Corkman claimed the fourth of the five fastest losers slots after a somewhat stopstart semi-final.
Carroll didn’t look altogether comfortable for long stretches of the race but his time of 13.34.98 proved sufficient in the end.
The Irishman put in something of a spurt over the closing 600m and he needed to as a time of 13.38 would not have been sufficient. His most anxious moment came with 770m left when he tangled with Frenchman Halez Taguelmint.
However, the 26-year-old, after momentarily losing his balance, steadied himself and set up chasing a pack of eight athletes who had detached themselves from the remainder of the field.
“It was a bit of a messy race with slow bits and faster bits. I would prefer a more consistent pace and I think that’s the kind of race the final will be. Tonight was no better than average,” he said.
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EXPLOSIVE Belfast southpaw Eamonn Magee headlines Panix Promotions “Seeking Justice” bill at the York Hall, London on September 13.
The “Justice” referred to stems from the Ardoyne fighter’s Commonwealth title clash against English light welter Paul Burke last November in Manchester.
Then a highly-controversial decision handed the vacant crown to Burke but after a storm of protest from Magee’s camp and supporters Commonwealth Council officials ordered a rematch.
After a frustrating period, when Burke seemed to be running shy of the fiery Ardoyne fighter, Magee now seems set to get his opportunity when they clash head on at the Bethnal Green venue on September 13.
Howard Eastman’s British title defence against Rochdale’s Derek Wormald supports the Magee v Burke top of the bill with a further eight fights on the undercard including rising Belfast middle Brian Magee.
The west Belfast southpaw has been matched with Dennis Doyley (Ilford).
