"It's beyond belief that we would hold up a game because people turn up late. They said it was a health and safety issue. I can't see it. Just because they haven't it organised or haven't got enough people together ... I don't know what it was for."

Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney wasn't a happy camper after their McKenna Cup clash against Tyrone was held up for 30 minutes due to crown congestion at the Athletic Grounds turnstiles.

"People say ease yourself into the new season, I don't think there was much easing there, it was a competitive game from the off."

No quarters were asked or given by Armagh and Tyrone's players and Mickey Harte wasn't in the least bit surprised.

"Rory has had a long club season so we decided to leave Rory off until January. He is probably the oldest member of the squad. Anthony Thompson at this time is working in the UK. We will not be rushing any of them. We will know by mid-January."

New manager Rory Gallagher might have to plan without the services of experienced Donegal duo Rory Kavanagh and Anthony Thompson for the new year.

"It was the start we wanted and nice to get a result but we know that isn't Sligo's strongest team either, we won't cod ourselves on that one."

Galway eased to a comfortable FBD League win over Sligo but Kevin Walsh wasn't getting carried away with their nine-point victory in Enniscrone.

"Next week we'll give another four or five lads a run again and everyone will get a chance in matches and in training. I'd just like to have more experienced players in there to play alongside them and give them a better opportunity to settle in."

Sligo's chances weren't helped by injuries according to Niall Carew.

"We are under no illusions, Meath is Meath. But they were trying an awful lot of the lads there today and they have this belief in the themselves that they are able to beat us every time they go out. We are the opposite. It's about getting through that and getting our confidence back now. It's going to be difficult."

Restoring confidence in the dressingroom is the big challenge facing Westmeath boss Tom Cribbin.

"Biggie (Reilly) has been training well and hard and it is his eighth season with Meath so he is experienced player."

Graham Reilly's six point return in Mullingar saw him singled out for special mention from Meath manager Mick O'Dowd.

"He enjoyed the fact he wasn't marking someone for a change! Eoin's a very good player, he's been in the full-back line a long time for Cork, we're looking at different options for players and he'd be one of them."

Brian Cuthbert is using the McGrath Cup to experiment with playing Eoin Cadogan at midfield.

"We've seen them playing club football and that's why they're here. It's a matter of picking the right opportunity to give them a fair chance to express their talents."

Dublin's young guns will be given every chance by Jim Gavin to stake a claim for themselves on his league panel.

"We're bucking the trend sending fellas away, fellas are coming back and that shows a lot about what we're doing in Roscommon."

The return of Michael Dufficy from Australia was a big plus for Roscommon manager John Evans as they saw off IT Sligo in the FBD league.

"We do want to deliver the ball as early as we possibly can, when it's on. If teams leave space or channels where you can kick the ball into them, we want to make use out of that."

Jason Ryan watched his Kildare charges score a convincing O'Byrne Cup victory over Louth.

Tweet

Most Read Stories