Thursday's GAA In The Papers

Catch up on all the latest news, views and GAA-related rumours in www.gaa.ie's latest daily feature, GAA In the Papers.

Peter McKenna, the Croke Park stadium and commercial director, is hopeful GAA Headquarters will stage a regular season NFL (American Football) game next year.

"The reaction to our bid document was positive,” McKenna told the Irish Examiner. “They’ve (the NFL) taken the view that in 2012 there will be one game in Wembley. We still see ourselves as being under consideration for 2013."

Meanwhile, the Irish Independent reports that Donegal manager Jim McGuinness has promised to blood a number of young players in this year’s Allianz League.

Martin O’Reilly, a minor last year, came on at half-time against Down last week and made a big impact.

"Martin was a big, big plus. His decision-making is very good; he has two good feet and two good hands. He definitely adds a lot of value," said McGuinness.

Ulster inter-provincial manager Joe Kernan says he has received plenty of co-operation from inter-county manager ahead of next Sunday week’s semi-finals but admitted that they have other priorities at the moment.

"We have always taken the inter-provincials very seriously in Ulster and all the county managers are doing their best to help me out, but their players have league commitments and can't think about the inter-pros until after next Sunday,” Kernan said.

"I'm planning to get the Ulster squad together in Armagh next Tuesday night and, hopefully, will line up a game for them if I can get opposition. I just wish we could have a little more time to prepare for the semi-final."

The Irish Times reports that both Kerry and Armagh will be missing several first team players for their Allianz Football League Division I clash in Tralee on Saturday night.

Armagh are hit particularly badly, with their Crossmaglen contingent – Jamie Clarke, Paul Hearty, Aaron Cunningham and the Kernan brothers – unavailable while Steven McDonnell is yet to return to the squad.

Orchard County boss Paddy O’Rourke feels his side can’t afford to be overawed by Kerry, as they were in the first half of last week’s game against Cork before recovering after the break and claiming a draw.

“Yes, we’ll have to take them on like we eventually did against Cork and see where that takes us,” says O’Rourke.

“It would have been easy for them to walk away and say they were playing a Cork team that has All-Ireland medals in their pockets. But they dug deep, they took the game to Cork and we went about our business as if we wanted to win the game."