REPORTS:A SOLUTION has been presented to solve the fixture backlog that seemed certain to deny Dublin representation in this year's Leinster club football championship.
The Leinster council’s competitions control committee (CCC) has recommended the Dublin champion’s quarter-final against the Meath champions on October 23rd be put back three weeks to November 13th.
If this is accepted by the other county delegates, the provincial final will not take place until Sunday, December 18th.
Any draws in the meantime will scupper this situation, forcing the Dublin winners to play two matches over one weekend or else miss out entirely.
This will be voted on next Wednesday although last night’s meeting of the province’s 12 county board chairmen was expected to all but rubber stamp the new proposal.
Crucially, Meath county secretary Cyril Creavin yesterday stated they would have no objection to the fixture change.
Meath have already put their senior football final, between Dunshaughlin and Summerhill, back to October 2nd to avoid a clash with the Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle as it is sponsored by the county tourism board.
“We are not going to object to this fixture change,” said Creavin, although he did add: “But we will be noting that last year our county champions were forced to play their opening Leinster fixture just four days after their replayed final.”
The Leinster Council secretary Michael Delaney confirmed yesterday that they are prepared to make this u-turn on what was initially stated as being a rigid fixture schedule.
However, Delaney was adamant that Dublin must present the delegates with a plan to ensure this situation does not reoccur.
Dublin will have to give us some undertaking that the timing of their football and hurling club championships will not impact on the Leinster competitions in the future,” said Delaney. “It now seems apparent that Dublin football and hurling teams will continue to be successful for the foreseeable future so we need to hear what they plan to do to avoid going down another fixture cul-de-sac at next Wednesday’s meeting.”
The backlog in both Dublin’s football and hurling club championships is due to the remarkable success of capital teams in both codes and at all age grades. It is also because so many senior players have dual commitments at club level.
There are fixtures in Dublin’s club hurling championship this weekend but the round of 32 in football cannot take place until Ballyboden St Endas play St Mary’s of Saggart on September 28th.
“We have to be fair on a lot of teams who are dependant on dual players,” Dublin county board chairman Andy Kettle explained. “We are talking about several clubs but particularly Ballyboden, Kilmacud and St Vincent’s.”
Under the new Leinster CCC fixture list, Dublin’s entry into the Leinster club hurling championship, due to be against the Westmeath champions on October 30th, will be put back by one week.
Meanwhile, Dublin secretary John Costello, football manager Pat Gilroy and Kettle are due to meet this week to carve up the public appearances of Sam Maguire over the coming months.
A 15,000-strong crowd showed up at captain Bryan Cullen’s Skerries Harps club on Monday night to welcome the cup and the Dublin panel.
“John, Pat and myself will sit down and plan out where Sam goes next,” said Kettle. “The clubs of players and the management will get priority so I would expect it will be going to St Vincent’s and Kilmacud Crokes very soon.”
- Mayo’s Andy Moran has been ruled out of the International Rules tour of Australia after sustaining a broken fibula while training with Anthony Tohill’s extended squad at Parnell Park last Saturday.
“While it is disappointing to miss out on the chance to go to Australia, I’m quite relieved because it was a clean break and I should be back playing within three or four months,” said Moran.
The first Test between Ireland and Australia is in Melbourne on October 28th with the second taking place on The Gold Coast seven days later.
LAST MAN STANDING: Mulholland clear to take over Galway job
THE way has been cleared for Alan Mulholland to take over as the new Galway senior football manager after the other candidate left in the race withdrew yesterday.
Former Offaly manager Gerry Fahy, who managed the Galway minors in 2009 and last year, decided not to allow his name to go forward for interview.
Fahy, who is currently in charge of former All-Ireland club hurling champions Sarsfields, was interviewed for the post last year.
"I will not be putting my name forward. I only found out officially last Thursday that I was nominated. I had a game with Sarsfields at the weekend, but once that was over I sat down to consider it all.
"Anyone with Galway blood in them would love to manage the county, but I have to be realistic. It is the same committee who conducted the interviews last year and I don't see any reason they would think I could do anything different this time.
"I wish whoever does get the job the very, very best of luck and I will offer my support if I can ever do anything for them."
A five-man interview committee was put together to vet the hopefuls, with football board chairman John Joe Holleran, secretary Seamus O'Grady, former manager Liam Sammon and club delegates Gearóid Denver and Gerry Hussey taking their place on the committee.
Mulholland, who steered Galway to the All-Ireland under-21 title this year having guided them to the minor crown in 2007, now looks set to become Galway's fourth manager in as many years.
