News round-up:The GAA has reacted strongly to renewed criticism of its sponsorship deal with Guinness. Speaking in yesterday's Irish Times, Dr Joe Barry, a member of the committee of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, said that the publication of a new manual, directed at helping clubs cope with alcohol and drug abuse, was hypocritical in the context of the sponsorship.

In a statement issued by the association's media officer Danny Lynch, the GAA responded to the charge and expressed unhappiness at the concentration on the GAA's alcohol-related sponsorship when other sports are involved in several similar arrangements.

"I find it strange that the GAA is being targeted again by a member of a Government body. I find it even more strange that we're being targeted in an environment where other sports have initiated new alcohol sponsorships, especially in very high-profile events.

"Talking about hypocrisy there's a suggestion from Dr Barry that other sports have been the focus of his attention. If they have been it must have been behind closed doors because I have seen no report of it in any of the national media.

"It is also anomalous that someone representing a state-sponsored organisation would attack the GAA with no reference to the money generated by Government from taxation on alcohol products. Neither is there any reference to the fact that state broadcasters accept on a continuous basis both advertising and sponsorship of televised events in other sports from alcohol companies and their various products.

"These have far more penetration in homes around the country than the Guinness sponsorship of the All-Ireland hurling championship.

"If Dr Barry was living in the real world he would acknowledge there are far greater problems associated with the televised transmission of high-profile international sports on pay-per-view or non-terrestrial channels, which leads to the pubs of Ireland being thronged with young people, who come to watch these events at weekends and on many week nights.

"This is a scenario surely relevant to national Government policy and one to which the good doctor might be advised to turn his attention.

"Dr Barry was very quick to launch his latest criticism on the basis of selective quotes from a publication that hasn't even been seen yet by the Management Committee or Central Council. One wonders at times why the GAA's efforts and contribution to society are regularly being used as a vehicle to undermine its status and progress."

•Moorefield defender Kevin O'Neill is considered a doubtful starter for the Leinster club football final against Rhode at Portlaoise on Sunday. The Kildare full back sustained an ankle injury during the drawn quarter-final game with Wexford champions Horeswood and didn't figure on the side which defeated Tyrrellspass in the semi- final last weekend.

•Monaghan County Board secretary John Scully has expressed strong words of criticism for the International Rules series in his annual report to the county convention.

Scully said the series poses a number of questions and raises issues that he feels need to be addressed, particularly the over-aggressive advertising campaign through the media where the game was portrayed with a warrior-like image.

He calls for some tough talking between the two associations and the strict implementation of the rules if the series is to succeed.