Just over a week from their All-Ireland qualifier game against Monaghan, Wicklow footballers have run into trouble. County champions Rathnew have withdrawn all their players from the team in a dispute with the county board.

The club say the county board are being unfair to one of their players, Leighton Glynn, in expecting him to play five championship matches in two weeks.

Rathnew had asked for a postponement of their senior football championship game against Baltinglass, to allow Glynn to play for the county hurlers as well as the footballers, but were refused.

In a two-week period from June 3rd to 17th, Glynn was expected to play two Christy Ring hurling matches, two local football championship matches and the All-Ireland qualifier against Monaghan.

Already the Wicklow footballers have lost their manager Hugh Kenny, who resigned immediately after the loss to Carlow in the Leinster championship.

Rathnew's secretary, Pat Sheehy, said the county board were being unrealistic and unfair to Glynn.

"We don't want to enter into a controversy of club versus county, but the county board are not giving fair treatment to Leighton Glynn," he said. "That was the last straw and, yes, we have withdrawn all our players from county teams, hurling and football."

County administrator Michael Murphy pointed out they had a fixtures meeting with all the clubs on May 26th. "We explained the position regarding fixtures to the clubs and they didn't want the local championship games postponed. Rathnew were at that meeting and did not raise any objections.

"We had to take account of what the clubs wanted. Otherwise it would mean the vast majority of players in the county sitting around doing nothing while only the few inter-county players were playing."

Meanwhile, the respective captains of the victorious minor and under-21 sides from last year have been drafted into the Galway senior hurling panel as Conor Hayes and his selectors beef up their squad for the championship.

Andrew Keary and Kenneth Burke are among eight new faces in the 30-man squad announced yesterday. Burke is joined by three other members of the successful All-Ireland under-21 side: sharpshooter Kerril Wade, goalkeeper Aidan Ryan and defender Paul Flynn.

Keary is the only member of the All-Ireland minor side to be drafted, Hayes leaving teenage sensation Joe Canning to concentrate on his efforts to win a third minor medal.

However, Canning's clubmate Eoin Lynch - outstanding at midfield as Portumna captured the All-Ireland club title this year - has been rewarded with a call-up to the county side.

Also included is Castlegar's Cathal Connolly, a son of the Galway legend John, the county's first All Star back in 1971.

All 15 who started last year's All-Ireland final against Cork are retained, but nine of the 13 subs that day are no longer involved.

Former captain Liam Hodgins has retired, promising young attacker Aonghus Callanan is injured, and Paul Dullaghan, Andy Coen and David Donoghue have joined Andrew Smyth, Tom Tierney, Noel Kenny and Kevin Hayes among those no longer required.

Conor Dervan and Michael John Quinn, introduced at the start of the league campaign, have held their places, while Eugene Cloonan will also be available this season having missed all of last year's campaign.

"There is a lot of underage talent coming through, while those who have impressed in the club championships have also been called up,' said selector Gerry Dempsey.

"All we have to do now is wait and see what the qualifier draw throws up on Sunday and we will take it from there."

Sligo GAA was rocked yesterday with the news that two members of the team that played against Galway in the Connacht football championship two weeks ago are going to the US for the summer.

Half back Jonathan Davey, who missed a great goal chance in Salthill, and Brian Curran, a member of the attack, were almost certain to play in Sligo's All-Ireland qualifying tie against Down at Markievicz Park on Saturday week.

Neither player is believed to have sought clearance to play in the US from the Sligo County Board yet.

Dessie Sloyan, who has been struggling with injury, has also withdrawn from the panel and a major doubt surrounds the fitness of full back and captain Noel McGuire, who has sustained a hand injury.

A less than fully fit McGuire would struggle against Down star Benny Coulter.

Wing forward Adrian Marren is also receiving treatment for a shoulder injury.