Injuries dilute Meath threat

The elation of last Saturday's Leinster SFC quarter-final replay victory over Laois was tempered somewhat by the news that Longwood's Michael Burke will miss the rest of the campaign following a serious double leg break. Burke has been one of Meath's most consistent performers this year and was enjoying another excellent outing when he became entangled in an accidental clash with Laois player John O'Loughlin. Some of the supporters on the terrace side of O'Connor Park told of hearing a sickening crack as Burke collided with his Laois opponent after 24 minutes. Team physio Frank Foley confirmed to the Meath Chronicle on Monday that the player has a fractured tibia and fibula. Burke was scheduled to have surgery on Sunday and is ruled out for the remainder of the season. The Longwood man's absence is another major blow for manager Eamonn O'Brien who has already lost David Bray and Niall McKeigue for the campaign. There is also further cause for concern for O'Brien ahead of Sunday's Leinster SFC semi-final clash against Dublin at Croke Park, 4.0, with Mark Ward, Anthony Moyles and Stephen Bray all nursing injuries. Ward left the field after turning on his ankle off -the-ball after 20 minutes, but he is expected to be available for selection, provided he responds positively to treatment. Bray also went over on his ankle and made way to allow Brendan Murphy take his place in goals after Paddy O'Rourke's dismissal. However, the Navan O'Mahonys man is not a concern ahead of next week's big game. Anthony Moyles is expected to be fit to face Dublin despite feeling a tight hamstring towards the end of the first-half against Laois. Moyles was replaced at the break, as a precaution, by Gary O'Brien, who had an excellent outing. There is also some better news concerning Nigel Crawford. The Meath captain continues to receive treatment for the back injury he sustained in training prior to the drawn encounter with Laois and is moving more freely. It is still unlikely that the Dunboyne man will be risked from the start against Dublin, but if he continues to improve during the week then he could feature at some stage. Despite predictions by RTE's Sunday Game analysts that Meath would sorely miss O'Rourke next weekend, the Skryne player will be suspended, manager O'Brien must be delighted to be able to call on Brendan Murphy as a replacement. Murphy was an Allstar nominee in 2007 and is still viewed by many as the best goalkeeper in the country despite opting out of inter-county action for 2009 during which he had a brief spell with League of Ireland side Longford Town. O'Rourke's suspension is disappointing, but it is by no means a major blow to Meath prospects of victory. There was widespread dissatisfaction amongst the hurling fraternity in Meath last weekend when four games were scheduled for the same time, 7.0, as Meath were facing Laois in their Leinster SFC quarter-final replay at Tullamore. Several prominent club officials, who did not wish to be named, expressed disgust that the CCC refused to change the fixtures and claimed that it showed a "blatant lack of respect for hurling people in the county." Four games, one in the SHC between Dunboyne and Clann na nGael (both had club men on the Meath senior football panel) and three IHC games, were played on Saturday evening. See big match preview on page seven.