Tom Cribben has finally been appointed manager of the Laois footballers. The widely-expected decision was made by the county board last night despite a proposal that the appointment be deferred until after the NFL breaks for Christmas at the end of the month.

Cribben, a native of Portarlington who intends to continue as playercoach with Clane in Kildare, survived some dissent to win the vote comfortably, 34-13. Michael Moore of the St Joseph's club read a onepage statement on behalf of a number of "concerned clubs" asking that more time be taken before a decision was reached.

His proposal was that a caretaker-manager be appointed. Debate was cut short by the call for a vote. Unusually for a Laois manager, Cribben has been granted a threeyear contract which will start next Sunday with the NFL match against Mayo in Graiguecullen.

Meanwhile the row in Kildare over the nomination of Cribben's club and current champions Clane to represent the county in this year's Leinster championship has been complicated by the results of the county semi-finals at the weekend.

Clane were nominated - provided they beat Moorefield at the weekend - by a full county board meeting last week but a number of clubs, including the other three semi-finalists, have objected and a special meeting will take place tomorrow to discuss rescinding the nomination.

Although Clane came through against Moorefield, the other semifinal between Sarsfields and Round Towers ended in a draw.

The reason for the nomination was that Kildare's representatives must play Fr Manning Gaels from Longford this Saturday. Now the Sarsfields-Round Towers replay is fixed for the same day.

Sarsfields will meet tonight to consider their attitude in the light of the semi-final replay. Club secretary Pierce Freaney says that the objection is not aimed at Clane but at what the clubs see as an arbitrary decision.

"We felt that the other three (semi-finalists) had an equal right to Clane to be represented. The county has never had to nominate before," he says.

Kildare's championship was delayed because of the county's success in winning Leinster and reaching the All-Ireland final. In counties where late-running fixtures are more frequent, the normal resolution is to nominate the defending champions to proceed to the provincial championships.

Freaney believes that "a toss of a coin" would be a fairer way of deciding the issue but concedes that Sarsfields' draw with Round Towers has "complicated matters".

One county which won't be nominating is Offaly - despite a draw in the final of the already-delayed county hurling championship between St Rynagh's and Seir Kieran.

It had been suggested after the match that reigning All-Ireland club champions Birr - beaten in the semi-finals by St Rynagh's - might be nominated as Offaly's representatives for the Leinster tie against Wicklow champions Kiltegan which was due to be played next Sunday. The fixture has now been postponed until November 22nd.

Meanwhile, Munster chairman Sean Kelly has ruled out an official investigation into the reasons behind the non-appearance of four Clare players for Sunday's Railway Cup hurling semi-final against Leinster.

"There won't be an investigation but maybe we'll make a few informal inquiries," he said.

He added that two players, Waterford's Fergal Hartley and Kerry's Michael Slattery, from other counties had also withdrawn but that their absence hadn't caused the same controversy after Munster went down to a substantial defeat.

"I would be surprised if Clare players were deliberately boycotting Munster," said Kelly.