Setback for Meath

Preparations for Meath"s All-Ireland SF qualifier against Limerick suffered a setback on Sunday after Anthony Moyles, Seamus Kenny and Brian Meade picked up injuries during the 0-13 to 2-13 defeat by Laois at Staplestown, Kildare in a senior football challenge. Kenny and Meade are expected to recover in time for the trip to the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday, 19th July, but Moyles (collarbone) looks doubtful for the game against the Munster men. The injury is another setback to the Blackhall Gaels man who was just getting back to full fitness following surgery on a troublesome groin problem that plagued him all winter. The potential loss of Moyles could be a major blow to manager Colm Coyle as his former captain is seen as the ideal replacement for Kevin Reilly as the Navan O"Mahonys man will miss the game through suspension. Coyle used last Sunday"s challenge against the beaten provincial semi-finalists Laois to utilise his full panel, but he was without the services of Brian Farrell, Stephen Bray, Cian Ward, Shane McAnarney, Mark Ward and Cormac McGill and also used substitute goalkeeper Patrick O"Rourke as an outfield substitute. There was some good news for Coyle in the return to action of Shane O"Rourke. The Simonstown Gaels player showed more signs of his return to full fitness with a nine-point haul. His absence was hard felt from Coyle"s panel in the earlier stages of the campaign so his return is welcome. Eoghan Harrington also had an excellent game against the Laois men and while a six-point loss is worrying, Coyle has always urged caution when reading too much into challenge matches. Another Coyle, Pat, will also be looking forward to a big match following the magnificent display by the Meath minor footballers in their victory over Longford at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday in the Leinster MFC semi-final. The minors had to did deep to negotiate the formidable challenge which Longford posed and at one stage in the second-half were adrift by 1-6 to 2-8. However, a sensational late recovery yielded goals from Mark Battersby and Damien Carroll for a 3-10 to 2-9 margin of victory which sent the Royal County supporters home in a happy mood and looking forward to a Leinster final on Sunday, 20th July. Meath team v Laois - B Murphy; E Harrington, D Fay, N McKeigue; S Kenny, A Moyles, C King; B Meade, N Crawford; P Byrne, S O"Rourke, G Reilly; G Geraghty, J Sheridan, A Nestor. Subs - K Reilly, D Sheridan, P O"Rourke, B Ennis, B Sheridan.