GAELIC GAMES/News Round-up: Kildare are in danger of surrendering points in the National Football League for the second year in succession because of another technical infringement on the sideline.

It emerged yesterday that officials from the county have been called before the next meeting of the Games Administration Committee (GAC) to explain an alleged breach of the substitution rules during the game against Sligo last Sunday week.

The GAC have been informed that Kildare only named their 15 starting players - and no substitutes - on the official team list furnished to the match referee.

According to the official GAA playing rule 109 (B), teams in intercounty games can only call on those players listed beforehand and are prevented from using any substitution whose name is not on that same list.

During the game Kildare used four substitutions, perfectly legal had they been listed on the official team sheet, but in this case clearly infringing the rule for which the penalty is forfeiture of the game.

Coincidentally it was against the same opposition a year ago that Kildare also broke the substitution rules. On that occasion they went beyond the permitted number of five substitutions by introducing a sixth player as a temporary blood substitute - and thus surpassing the 20 different numbered players allowed during a game.

Last year's game ended in a draw and Sligo were subsequently awarded the full points following the GAC investigation.

The game last Sunday week at Markievicz Park ended in a one-point victory for Kildare, but it appears that the GAC again have no option but to award the full points to Sligo.

According the Sligo PRO Padraig Duffy, it is normal practice for a county to point out any breach of rules to the GAC. The county board outlined the details of the case by letter, which was examined by the GAC at the meeting on Wednesday night and so brought about the full investigation.

"We pointed out this problem primarily so that it wouldn't happen again," said Duffy yesterday. "It is not our (Sligo's) intention to object to the Kildare victory in any way, but rather advise them of what they've done wrong.

"Nor is it our intention to try and win league points away from the playing field. Like any other team it's all about winning them during the game. But the Kildare player list submitted on the day was not in order, and that's the only issue here."

The next GAC meeting is scheduled for two weeks' time, March 5th, and it remains to be seen what explanation Kildare will offer for their oversight. It is also understood that the Kildare team list on the day in question was not properly signed by a county official, nor included the list of players' clubs as required.

Those oversights, however, don't carry the same severe penalty - forfeiture of the game - and the key question for Kildare is why match referee Seamus McGonigle of Donegal was not furnished with the usual team list before the game.

Meanwhile, the GAC have decided to clear Dunshaughlin captain Aidan Kealy of a six-month suspension stemming from an All-Ireland Sevens game last September. This frees him to play in Sunday's All-Ireland club football semi-final against Crossmolina.

Kealy had been cited for jostling with a linesman and his suspension had already ruled him out of Dunshaughlin's successful run through Leinster. The linesman in question, however, subsequently retracted the charge, provided a sworn affidavit, and also presented additional information when attending the GAC meeting on Monday night.

Donegal's Kevin Cassidy, who was sent off against Dublin in the National Football League game at Ballyshannon last Sunday week, was also cleared of any charge on the basis of indisputable video evidence.

Several suspensions were confirmed from recent football league games, with Cork's Fionán Murray receiving an eight-week suspension after his dismissal against Kerry on February 1st. Murray's suspension was lengthened after being reported for verbal abuse by the match official, and rules him out of all but the last round proper of the league.

Anthony Nolan (Wicklow), Jonathan Dunning (Roscommon), Jason Stokes (Limerick), Fergal Kelly (Mayo), Gregory McCartan (Down) and Shane Colleary of Westmeath all received four-week suspensions.

Westmeath's Rory O'Connell was suspended for two weeks after being sent off for two cautions in the game against Leitrim.

In team news, new Kilkenny captain Charlie Carter will miss the first round of the National Hurling League because of an ankle injury, with manager Brian Cody giving senior debuts to Tommy Walsh (corner back) and Diarmuid Mackey (corner forward).

Opponents Waterford have also named two senior debuts, coincidentally in the same positions as Kilkenny. Alan Kirwan starts at corner back, as does Paul O'Brien at corner forward.

WATERFORD (SH v Kilkenny): S Breene; A Kirwan, T Feeney, B Flannery; E Murphy, T Browne, P Queally; J Murray, P Fitzgerald; E Kelly, K McGrath, E McGrath; P O'Brien, D Shanahan, D Bennett.

OFFALY (SH v Tipperary): S Byrne; B Teehan, M O'Hara, K Brady; C Cassidy, J Brady, D Franks; B Murphy, G Oakley; N Coughlan, G Rafferty, D Murray; S Weir, B Carroll, K Kelly.

KILKENNY (SH v Waterford): J McGarry; T Walsh, A Cummins, P Larkin; R Mulally, P Barry, JJ Delaney; D Lyng, S Dowling; B McEvoy, H Shefflin, M Comerford; D Mackey, E Brennan, DJ Carey.

MONAGHAN (SF v Derry): G Murphy; D McDermott, J Coyle, P McKenna; J O'Brien, D Duffy, D McArdle; E Lennon, AN Other; D Freeman, G Meehan, T Freeman; K Tavey, R Woods, J Mone.