Kelly rules out giving sinbin a reprieve

A repeat of last winter's experimental rules has been ruled out by GAA president Seán Kelly ahead of the weekend's management…

A repeat of last winter's experimental rules has been ruled out by GAA president Seán Kelly ahead of the weekend's management committee meeting, held in conjunction with the inaugural club congress in Killarney.

This means the ill-fated sinbin will not reappear on the agenda for the national league or preliminary competitions. Kelly feels this year's championship was successful enough to make reassessment of discipline unnecessary.

"The urgency wouldn't be the same as we had a very good championship with regard to discipline," said Kelly.

"Overall I was very happy with the number of disciplinary cases. The new independent appeals system also proved very beneficial."

READ MORE

During last year's All Stars trip to Hong Kong, the GAA overruled a task force, appointed by Kelly, on the initial yellow-card rule by allowing a sinbinned player to be replaced by a substitute.

This was a result of pressure from several quarters, mainly Ulster, regarding players missing 10 minutes during the national league for a caution.

The experiment proved a complete failure, however, as the rejigged rule meant, on receiving a yellow card, a player was effectively sent off.

Meanwhile, the All Star hurlers of 2004 and 2005 travel to Singapore on January 18th. An exhibition game takes place at the Singapore Polo Grounds on Saturday, January 21st. As with the footballers, this year's team will be announced on November 23rd.

Singapore's local GAA club, the Gaelic Lions, will host the visitors, making the city the seventh venue since the tour was revived under Vodafone sponsorship in 2000.

The hurlers have been to Buenos Aires, Phoenix and Las Vegas, while the footballers have visited Dubai, San Diego and Hong Kong.

Kelly also hinted next year's interprovincial football final may go to Aidan McAnespie GAA club in Canton, Boston, in the light of the "excellent" reception they laid on for last week's hurling final.

"We may bring the football back there next year although there is an interest from Chicago as well," said Kelly.

"America is the right place to host it, Boston was the right city, and it is mainly a football city, while the McAnespies was certainly the right club."

The 2006 championship football draws for Connacht, Munster and Leinster take place tomorrow, live from the club congress on RTÉ at 7pm, along with the Munster and Leinster hurling draws.

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey is The Irish Times' Soccer Correspondent