Down skipper Sean Ward was carrierd off on Sunday with an ankle injury

Ward was stretchered off with an ankle injury during Sunday's NFL Division One two final against Offaly after only a minute's play.

Down boss Paddy O'Rourke, however, is not confident that he will be fit Cavan opener.

''We got him X-rayed, but it didn't show anything,'' said O'Rourke.

''There is a lot of swelling so they want to X-ray Sean again when it abates.

''We'll not really know until then, but it doesn't look good.''

Down lost the decider 1-10 to 1-08 after both sides were level at five points apiece at the break.

Sweeney injury

Meanwhile, Donegal star Adrian Sweeney is another faced with an anxious wait before his county's entry into the Championship when they face Antrim on 30 May.

Sweeney injured his shoulder during a club game at the weekend and he is proving a worry for manager Brian McEniff.

''It's early days,'' he said. It will probably 48 hours to find out the extent of the problem. But there's nothing broken and it should heal well. But it is a worry nonetheless.''