NEWS ROUND-UP:THE GAA has defended its decision to stage the Christy Ring Cup final in Croke Park this Friday evening - despite it being a stand-alone fixture that's unlikely to attract more than a few hundred spectators.

The decision drew criticism from the managers of the two competing counties, Westmeath and Carlow, yet the GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) yesterday claimed the game was originally set to be played in Croke Park on Saturday week, as a curtain raiser to the All-Ireland football quarter-final involving Dublin and the winners of one of this weekend's third round qualifiers.

When this was put to Westmeath and Carlow, they declined, and instead the CCCC opted for this Friday as the most suitable alternative. The GAA also gave them the option of playing in Portlaoise this Saturday evening, with a 7pm throw-in.

Dublin's quarter-final, thus confirmed for Saturday week, August 9th, was always likely to be played exclusive of the other three quarter-finals, no matter who provides the opposition, and according to a GAA statement, the Christy Ring Cup final was pencilled in as the curtain raiser, and "would have guaranteed the game being played before a capacity attendance".

"Both counties refused this option. As there are two triple-bills in Croke Park on Saturday and Sunday next weekend, involving the Tommy Murphy and Nicky Rackard Cup finals on respective days, and as there will also be a triple-bill at the stadium on Sunday, August 10th, there was no choice but to play the Christy Ring Cup final on Friday evening, August 1st, if it was to be played at headquarters.

"The counties also got an option of playing the game in Portlaoise at 7pm on Saturday next."

Neither the Westmeath or Carlow managers were impressed with the news that Croke Park on a Friday evening was the venue for the final. Managed by Johnny Dooley, who described the decision as an "insult", Westmeath will start as favourites: "I don't know if they thought this through," said Dooley. "It's not good enough. This is a huge game for Westmeath and for Carlow. This decision is insulting to all of the 12 counties that took part this year."

Carlow manager was even more scathing of the decision, describing it as "madness of the highest order" and adding: "We've been talking about it as a team unit since last October and I was hoping that it would be the first of many an appearance there for some of our players. But Friday night, at 7.30? It'd be like playing in a tin can. What I can't understand is why this game is not a curtain raiser for the All-Ireland semi-final between Cork and Kilkenny."

All four of this weekend's third-round qualifiers will be televised, with TV3 completing their live championship package for 2008 with the Monaghan-Kerry game, set for 4pm on Sunday. The three remaining games - Down-Wexford and Mayo-Tyrone on Saturday, and Kildare-Fermanagh on Sunday - will go out on RTÉ 2.

The GAA have also announced admission to both the two double-bills of third-round qualifiers this weekend will be by ticket only, and these are being made available from participating county boards, gaa.ie and ticketmaster outlets nationwide.

Ticket outlets on match day will be located at the GAA ticket shop, North Circular Road (opposite Gill's pub); Bishop's Palace on Drumcondra Road, outside Martin Properties at the Dorset Street end of Whitworth Road; and also under the railway bridge on the Ballybough Road.

It has also been clarified that following this weekend's third-round qualifiers, a draw will take place on Sunday evening to determine the line-up for the four quarter-finals, which will take place the following weekend, August 9th/10th.

Meanwhile, the GAA have stated attendance at the hurling and football championships to date are in line with previous years in this decade. Attendance figures reveal 966,722 have attended the senior hurling and football championship games to date and the one million mark will comfortably be reached next weekend.

Finally, the GAA have announced the winners of the 2007 McNamee Awards.

MCNAMEE AWARD WINNERS

Local Radio Programme:Radio Kerry Extended Sunday Sports All-Ireland Final Day;

Best Website:St Vincent's GAA Club www.stvincentsgaa.ie;

Best Club Media Production:"Ní neart go cur le chéile - The History of St Laurence's GAA club, co Kildare 1957-2007 by Daragh Ó Conchúir;

Best County Final Programme:Down Football Final;

Best County Yearbook:Donegal;

Provincial Media Award: Sligo Champion;

National Media Award:Michael Foley, The Sunday Times;

Hall of Fame Award:Martán Ó Ciardha, Raidió na Gaeltachta.

Tipperary look to regain past glories

TIPPERARY will this evening hope to make it two-out-of-three Munster hurling titles when they meet Clare in the under-21 final in Ennis (7.30).

Having won the senior title, but lost out in the minor final by a point to Cork, Tipperary will start the game as marginal favourites, despite a narrow win over Limerick in the semi-final earlier this month - 1-13 to 0-15 - where they drew level with two minutes of normal time remaining before a late point from full forward Mark O'Meara ensured his side took a one-point victory.

Clare defeated Cork by 1-20 to 1-11 in the other semi-final, and make one change from that game, bringing in former minor standout Darragh Honan at right corner forward, in place of Colm Madden.

Honan, who is also known for his basketball skills, appeared in the semi-final win over Cork as a substitute.

TIPPERARY:M Ryan; B Maher, P Maher, K Maher; K Lanigan, T Stapleton, M Cahill; G Ryan, S Hennessy; T McGrath, M O'Meara, P Maher; P Bourke, S Callinan, S Bourke.

CLARE:D Touhy; E Glynn, C Cooney, C O'Doherty; G O'Connell, A Quilligan, J McInerney; D Browne, N O'Connell; J Conlon, G Arthur, S Collins; C Madden, C Morey, C Ryan .