INTERNATIONAL RULES SERIES:THE GAA have indicated that fears of a swine flu epidemic also contributed to the AFL's decision to request the postponement of the 2009 International Rules series until next year. The Association's director general Páraic Duffy, in his first public comment on the issue, said that in communications with the AFL, which last week resulted in the postponement of the series, the matter of swine flu was raised, and that this was another of their concerns, along with the financial constraints.

“They mentioned two things to us,” said Duffy. “Finance was the primary thing, the second was an issue with swine flu, which was an issue for them at the moment more, than it is here. They did mention that as a secondary factor.

“There is some concern in Australia about people travelling abroad because of swine flu. That’s the only two issues that we are aware of.”

Reports from Australia suggested that the AFL are in fact primarily concerned about their current expansion programme, and that was the reason behind their request for the postponement – rather than any financial matters. The GAA, while clearly disappointed at the decision, are happy to take their word for it.

“We were disappointed and it would be a lie to say we weren’t,” added Duffy, “but I spoke to Andrew Demetriou several times the week before it, but in the end it was their decision. We couldn’t force the issue and say ‘you have to come’. We have to understand their point of view that financially it is a problem for them. They have given us a written guarantee that they will come next year and we accept that.

“But in a sense I’m not surprised money has become an issue. We operate in the same way. We work to a budget. No organisation wants to work to a deficit.

“What they said to us is they are facing a major deficit, that they couldn’t have anticipated at the start of the year. In fairness to the AFL, if they want to bring their finances within budget that’s their business. We would be the same. We couldn’t afford to run or organisation at a loss or a major deficit. We have to respect that.”

In the meantime Duffy is not predicting the swine flu issue to have any further impact on domestic matters, despite one game – the minor football meeting between Down and Dublin briefly being postponed for that very reason: “To be honest it doesn’t appear it will be a major issue for us this season because our championship season runs for another month or six weeks.

“At the moment it wouldn’t be of huge concern. We have had contact with the HSE about how we would handle it if it does arise, but it doesn’t appear at the moment that it will be a big issue for this year’s championship.”

On another matter, Duffy was confident the newly laid pitch in Croke Park would satisfy Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling semi-finalists as it did the football quarter-finalists last weekend.“I don’t think it will be a problem. A lot of work has gone on again this week and I think it will be fine. I don’t think there will be any major problems and it will play perfectly for hurling. It won’t look at its very best again but it is getting there.”

“We were very happy with it last weekend. The key thing for us was that it played properly, and it did. I know it didn’t look great, but it played absolutely perfectly. It was very gratifying to hear that the players were pleased with it.

“We did try it out last Friday and the players that tested it felt it was good. We were fairly confident it would do okay on Sunday. It is a relief to get over the whole process of digging up a good pitch, putting a new one down and knowing it is as good as the last one. We were very happy with it.

“It means now you have the possibility that if we have to replace the pitch during the course of the year you can do it. We couldn’t have done that with the old pitch. We are really delighted.”

Finally, Duffy expressed similar satisfaction for the championship attendances to date, which are on course to match up to or even surpass last year, despite the continuing panic in the economy.

Reports emanating from Australia yesterday suggest Kerry footballer Tommy Walsh has been granted another trial with AFL club St Kilda. Walsh was due to travel to the club last November, but missed the December 2nd deadline for AFL international draft nominations when the Kerry county final went to a replay.

Although Walsh remains committed to the Kerry team, AFL agent Ricky Nixon has continued behind-the-scenes negotiations that could yet see the Kerry player head Down Under.