Indications have emerged that the GAA will not move to discipline players involved in the GPA endorsement controversy in advance of the All-Ireland finals next month. It was widely speculated that Offaly's Brian Whelahan and any other involved player whose team qualifies for the All-Ireland could face suspensions which would force them out of the event.

GAA sources have revealed that the controversy will be dealt with by the Games Administration Committee and Central Council. There was a meeting of the Management Committee on Wednesday night, but it is believed that the GPA endorsements issue was not discussed in detail.

The GAC has been meeting on a regular basis this summer in order to expedite the processing of disciplinary matters, but Central Council had its most recent meeting the week before last and is not scheduled to meet again until September as there is no meeting in August.

Aside from the logistical obstacles, there is no apparent desire on the part of the GAA to take drastic decisions before weighing up the consequences. Jarlath Burns, chairman of the Players' Committee, said on radio's lunchtime news yesterday that he personally didn't believe that suspensions would take place.

Meanwhile, the industrial dispute at the Croke Park building site is still unresolved. After initial reports that the matter had been settled between the workers and Sisks, it emerged last night that the carpenters were not going to return.

If the matter is not sorted out quickly, it will have disastrous consequences for the All-Ireland finals. The redevelopment work was already behind schedule and progress would have had to be rapid to meet the target of approximately 63,000. A delay of a couple of weeks would throw the project well off-course.

Unless a settlement can get work restarted by Monday, the capacity for next month's All-Ireland finals is likely to suffer. At present, it stands at around 50,000. According to Dermot Power, Marketing Manager of the new development, the action will not affect this weekend's Leinster final replay and All-Ireland semi-final.

"We had hoped to be able to bring in additional seats to add to that capacity in time for the weekend, but that hasn't been possible," he said. "If the work is back on track by Monday there shouldn't be a serious problem, but any further delay will affect the All-Ireland attendances the longer it goes on."

Originally, the GAA had hoped to be able to open the Canal Stand in March. This estimate was generously revised to July, but the stand still hasn't been completed and is likely to be a couple of thousand short of its capacity by the time the All-Irelands take place.

The Dublin v Kildare game has sold out, but it is expected that a small number of tickets for the Kilkenny v Galway game may go on sale on Sunday morning from the usual outlets close to Croke Park.

Finally, Derry hurling corner forward Michael Collins was honoured with the Bass/Ulster GAA Writers' Merit Award for the month of July after his display in the All-Ireland quarter-final, when he scored four points against Offaly. Collins starred throughout the game and gave the All-Ireland finalists' defence a tough time.

Michael's better-known brother Oliver won this award exactly two years ago and the Collins are only the fourth set of brothers to have been honoured since the scheme was launched in 1988. The others were Henry and Seamus Downey, Jim and Oisin McConville, and Tom and Paul Brewster.

The winner edged out his county colleague Colin McEldowney, Armagh star John McEntee and Tyrone lady captain Lisa McGirr for the July award.

Pat Roe, the former Laois footballer has been appointed manager of the Carlow senior football team. He takes over from Cyril Hughes.

Holywood footballer Hugh Keogh has been suspended for two years after the Wicklow county board's investigation into an off-the-ball incident in a league match between Holywood and Bray Emmets whose county player Brendan O hAnnaidh sustained a broken jaw during the match.

The timing for the launch of the Dublin County Board's official website this week couldn't have been better. Hill 16 Online provides all that you would expect from a sporting website. www.hill16.ie