Injuries plague Meath players

There was bad new for Meath manager Eamonn O"Brien ahead of the Leinster SFC showdown against Dublin on Sunday, 7th June when Brian Farrell was forced out of the action during Nobber"s narrow IFC win over St Colmcille"s at Slane on Sunday. Farrell limped out of Meath"s final NFL Div 2 game against Kildare two weeks ago, but was considered fit enough to start for his club on Sunday. However, a troublesome hamstring caused Farrell more problems and he was forced out of the action. 'Hopefully Brian"s hamstring isn"t too bad. 'I will have to talk to Frank Foley and assess the situation,' the Meath manager told the Meath Chronicle. 'It would be a big blow if we lost Brian because he is such an exceptional forward and has a natural attacking flair,' added the manager. Another cause for concern was the non-appearance of Nigel Crawford for Dunboyne"s SFC defeat by Skryne at Dunshaughlin on Sunday. The towering midfielder, rejuvenated during Meath"s NFL Div 2 campaign, was carrying a minor hamstring injury from the Kildare game. O"Brien is hopeful that Crawford sat out his club"s game as a precautionary measure. 'We will be bringing the players back for training this week and then assessing all the injuries. Hopefully, everyone will come back in good shape, but we will just have to wait and see.' One player O"Brien seems certain to be without for at least a few months is Simonstown"s Shane O"Rourke who has been suffering with a persistent hamstring problem for some time and is undergoing intensive treatment under physical therapist Gerard Hartmann. Other Meath players who sat out club action last weekend included Navan O"Mahonys pair Niall McKeigue and Barry Regan, Dunboyne"s Stephen McKenna and David Gallagher while Donaghmore / Ashbourne"s Eoin Reilly was forced out of his side"s SFC game in the first-half with a leg problem. O"Brien is trying to organise a couple of decent challenge matches over the next few weeks, but nothing has been confirmed yet.