GAELIC GAMES:A DECISION on whether the Leinster club football and hurling finals go ahead this Sunday will be made by lunch time today, following pitch inspections in Portlaoise and Carlow, but the Munster Council remain confidant their football decider between Dr Crokes and Nemo Rangers remains on schedule for the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick also this Sunday.

The Leinster Council has earmarked Sunday week, December 12th, if the football final, between Kilmacud Crokes and Rhode in Portlaoise, and the hurling decider, between O’Loughlin Gaels and Oulart The Ballagh in Carlow, are postponed due to the cold snap.

The main concern for O’Moore Park in Portlaoise is ice rather than snow. If that thaws overnight – which is most unlikely – a positive decision could be made today.

Met Éireann, however, forecast temperatures of minus seven last night with more hail, sleet and snow to follow today.

“It might be a little bit early to be making the call, but in fairness to everybody involved we feel that it’s the best thing to do,” said Leinster Council secretary Michael Delaney ahead of today’s decision.

“The forecast (of adverse weather conditions) is only going into the middle of next week and there’s no great improvement between now and then. If we lose this weekend’s games we will provisionally go the weekend of the 12th.

“After that, if we fail to get them played, they will go towards the end of January. We won’t go Christmas week.”

Today’s decision has ramifications, starting with team preparation which has already been severely disrupted by the frozen surfaces and daily snowfall.

“There has been no preparation, training was cancelled,” explained Kilmacud manager Paddy Carr. “The road situation was so treacherous last night that we couldn’t put players in danger by asking them to come to training. It was difficult enough for them to get home from work.

“We need clarification in the interest of every one involved. It is difficult to justify a final when so many things are outside our control at the moment.

“This is the culmination of 11 months preparation so I’m not sure we are able to do justice to it, but we will go with whatever decision the Leinster Council decides.”

Already this week, Mick Nolan, the manager of Kilkenny champions O’Loughlin Gaels, suggested the final be put back until the first week in February to avoid conducting another hurling contest in “a sea of muck”.

This would at least provide continuity for the winners as they enter the All-Ireland series, but such a decision may lead to objections from the other provinces.

The much anticipated Munster decider between Kerry champions Dr Crokes and Cork’s Nemo Rangers remains on course, as Limerick has not been as badly exposed to the freezing weather or snowfall evident along the east coast and midlands.

No decision has been made by the Ulster Council regarding their already rescheduled football final this Sunday between Crossmaglen Rangers and Naomh Conaill in Clones, but it may be brought forward by 24 hours.

The Ulster champions are due to face London champions Neasden Gaels in the All-Ireland club football quarter-final the following weekend.

A postponement of the Leinster fixtures for another week would benefit 2009 All-Ireland champions Kilmacud Crokes, as their Wexford intercounty footballer Adrian Morrissey will have served his four-week suspension and automatic match ban. He sat out the victory over Garrycastle, making him free to return to action.

Crokes are awaiting today’s decision from the Leinster Council before deciding whether to appeal the Morrissey case, following a red card in a recent Dublin league match, to the disputes resolution authority.

They have also held off confirming the availability of Dublin players Niall Corkery and Rory O’Carroll, who are based abroad in London and France respectively.

Meanwhile, the GAA have already moved to cancel their annual coaching conference, entitled “Coaching Children: Building a Platform for Lifelong Involvement in Gaelic Games”, that was due to take place this Saturday in Croke Park.

All delegate bookings remain valid for the rescheduled date of January 15th. Any delegates unable to attend are asked to email gamesdevelopment@gaa.ie for details.