Gavin Cummiskeyhears from the Dublin champions as they prepare to face Meath's Navan O'Mahony's at Parnell Park this weekend

MINISTER for Sport Martin Cullen confirmed in the Dáil yesterday that the Gaelic players' grant scheme is under threat for 2009 and beyond due to the "current economic restraints".

Cullen was answering a question from Fine Gael deputy John O'Mahony, who is the Mayo football manager.

O'Mahony said "the principle of players' grants should be maintained".

Cullen explained the €4 million cut to the Irish Sports Council funding in the recent budget as a potential reason for dropping the grants scheme that the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) had campaigned for six years to achieve.

The first €3.5 million was distributed recently among intercounty players.

Speaking on RTÉ radio last night, GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell said it would be "devastating" if the scheme were dissolved after just one season.

Farrell remains hopeful, however, that the scheme can be maintained at a reduced rate.

"In light of the Sports Council budget cut of eight per cent, we are prepared to work within those constraints. Anything above and beyond that would be very difficult to take."

Waterford hurler John Mullane added: "It is a kick in the teeth really for all the work the GPA, Dessie and the players have done down through the years. The easy option is to take it out on the players."

KILMACUD CROKES' leading marksman Mark Vaughan remains a doubt for Sunday's Leinster club football semi-final against Navan O'Mahony's at Parnell Park despite returning to light training this week.

The Dublin free-taker is still recovering from an infected knee, and he picked up a further knock representing DIT last week.

"It looks like he will be alright," said Crokes selector Mark Duncan. "He has not been at full tilt because of the infection and further damage playing for DIT, when he had to come off early. He is not properly recovered, but, having said that, he looked alright in training last night."

Liam Óg Ó hEineacháin and Nicky McGrath remain the other concerns for Crokes, but this has been offset by the return of 2002 All Star Ray Cosgrove from a three-month suspension ahead of the Newtown Blues victory.

Cosgrove got another run out last Friday in a league match against St Brigid's.

"It brought me on a little bit. I'm certainly fitter for it," he said. "I've been tipping away for a while now.

"Yeah, there was a lot of black smoke against Newtown. After three months out I was always going to be a bit off the pace. I was under no illusions about that, but I'm feeling better now."

Many of the team were rested last Friday with the two-week break deemed vital after playing six games in seven weeks after two replays in the Dublin championship.

"You could sense it in the league game last Friday night - a weight off their shoulders," Cosgrove continued.

"The break was needed more for psychological reasons rather than physical. They would have been well able to play again, but it was a case of getting up for it again. The break was important."

Although Kilmacud regained the county championship for the first time since 2005 and subsequently beat Celbridge and Newtown, Cosgrove agreed their form has been at best patchy this season.

"To be honest, we haven't clicked properly yet. We huffed and puffed against Vincent's and again in the county final against Plunketts. It is the forwards that really need to improve, me included. Brian (Kavanagh), Mark and Davo (Mark Davoren) can all go up another level and they will all need to.

"The positive from this is we have been winning ugly, especially against St Vincent's when Mark made those late contributions."

The presence of Crokes manager and Navan resident Paddy Carr is another obvious advantage facing into a team backboned by Meath players Kevin Reilly, Mark Ward and 2007 All Star forward Stephen Bray, along with an impressive scoring contribution from his younger brother, David.

"Paddy still lives there so he has his homework done. He has been getting stick whenever he goes down to the shops! We have a good insight into them, but with six or seven Meath players in the team that might not necessarily be enough. But at least we know what is coming down the tracks."

Meanwhile, the 2008 Cork hurling panel are expected to begin unofficial training sessions, further excluding manager Gerald McCarthy, who the players are refusing to play for, despite the county board recently handing him a renewed two-year term.

McCarthy is preparing a development team to play St Colman's College PP in a challenge match on Sunday. Former dual player Teddy McCarthy has already been confirmed as a new selector alongside John Mortell and Ger Fitzgerald.

One more selector is still to be named after Martin Bowen and Donie Collins stepped aside.

McCarthy is also seeking a new team trainer to replace Jerry Wallis.