Leinster prospects improve

Meath senior football manager Eamonn O'Brien received a significant boost last weekend with defensive mainstay Kevin Reilly producing an excellent 60 minutes for Navan O'Mahonys as he returned for the first round of the 2010 SFC. Reilly lined out at full-back for O'Mahonys in the five-point victory over last year's IFC champions Oldcastle and he could feature for Meath in the SF challenge against Galway at Summerhill on Sunday, 9th May, 7.0. Meath's erratic NFL Div 2 campaign was dogged by injuries and suspensions and while some of those problems still linger, O'Brien will be happy that Reilly played so well in a tough game on Sunday at Athboy. With the negative news surrounding the loss of Niall McKeigue for four months with a ruptured hamstring, and David Bray with a cruciate knee problem, the return of Reilly is a significant boost because the full-back position was becoming a serious problem. However, the absence of Mickey Burke from Longwood's IFC victory against Syddan diluted the good news. Burke picked up a hamstring problem a couple of weeks ago and is expected to be out of Longwood's SHC return against Clann na nGael this Saturday, he is hoping to be fit for the challenge game against Galway. O'Brien also continues to sweat over the fitness of Cormac McGuinness. The O'Mahonys man wasn't in action for his club last Sunday and is expected to miss another few weeks, which leaves him a serious doubt for the Leinster SFC opener against Offaly on Sunday, 23rd May. On the plus side, Na Fianna's Ollie Lewis shrugged off an injury, picked up while on Meath duty, to help Na Fianna to a draw with Castletown in the IFC. His return to fitness should secure inclusion on the Meath panel for the game against Offaly. Another of O'Brien's walking wounded to make a welcome return to action last weekend was goalkeeper Brendan Murphy. The outstanding Trim net minder has been dogged with back problems since the turn of the year, but he lined out at full-forward, contributing a point, in his club's SFC draw with St Patrick's. Stephen Bray also showed a return to form with an impressive display against Oldcastle and if he can remain injury-free, Meath's Leinster SFC prospects will improve. O'Brien will also be pleased with the form of Joe Sheridan, who showed some of his brilliant best for Seneschalstown against St Ultan's. With another round of SFC fixtures set for the May Bank Holiday weekend, O'Brien will be hoping that his players come through the club championship games unscathed.