All Star tour gets the all clear for Argentina

GAELIC GAMES/News: The All Star hurling tour to Argentina later this month will proceed as planned. A meeting of GAA officials in Croke Park yesterday, which included president Seán McCague and director general Liam Mulvihill, concluded that the unstable economic situation in Argentina poses no threat to visitors and the tour could depart as scheduled on January 23rd.

The decision was taken following formal confirmation from the Irish Ambassador to Argentina that the "political and social situation in Argentina has stabilised" and there was no threat to the touring party. The GAA, however, will continue to monitor the situation in consultation with the Irish Embassy in Buenos Aires.

Sponsored by Eircell/Vodafone, the tour is to feature an exhibition game between the 2000 All Star selection and the 2001 selection in Buenos Aires on January 26th. There has been one late alteration, in that 2001 All Star Mark Foley is unable to travel. He has been replaced by Galway's Cathal Moore.

The decision will also come as some relief to the Buenos Aires hurling club, hosts to the event. Although transformed into a rugby club, it was for many years since its establishment in 1900 the leading hurling club in Argentina. There is a considerable Irish population in Argentina.

GAA officials also met the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) chairman Dessie Farrell on Wednesday night, although the outcome of their discussions won't be revealed after further consultation.

Former Armagh footballer Jarlath Burns, who chairs the GAA's Players' Committee, was also present for what was the first formal meeting between the two sides.

Though described as positive, there will be no official statement from either party on the exact nature of the discussions at this stage. It is known that the GPA is seeking, among other things, an allowance of around £100 per week for players to cover expenses and loss of earnings.

Also announced yesterday were the 32 AIB County Clubs of the Year 2001. County representatives will be presented with their award and development grant at a ceremony in Croke Park on February 4th.

Each county winner goes forward to contest the provincial finals and also the overall title of GAA Club of the Year 2001. The provincial winners and the overall winner will be announced at the function in February. Each of the provincial winners will receive a €1,270 development grant, while the overall winner will receive a €6,350.

Meanwhile, in his annual report of the European County Board, outgoing secretary Cathal Lynch highlighted some of the board's main achievements over the last couple of years. They include, from 2001, the first delegation from the European Board to the GAA's congress, plus their successful inaugural European GAA League.

The Board plans to draw up a strategic plan that will, inside five years, result in a board with affiliated clubs in 20-25 European towns/cities, running divisions/regions and playing improving quality Gaelic games at all levels. The board's county convention takes place in Luxembourg on January 19th, and will include a presentation by the GAA's director of games, Pat Daly.

The Laois team for Sunday's O'Byrne Cup semi-final against Carlow at Portarlington sees Michael Lawlor back in his familiar position among the team's forwards.

Lawlor was handed a six-month suspension last April and missed the entire championship after bring involved in an incident with a linesman during the county's National Football League match with Sligo.

Lawlor will play at full forward, a position he has already held in Laois' pre-Christmas O'Byrne Cup matches. Opponents Carlow will name their team later today, though it remains to be seen if Willie Quinlan and Garvan Ware, who both recently recommitted to the county, will feature.

AIB COUNTY CLUB AWARD WINNERS 2001

LEINSTER - Wexford: Taghmon Camross; Wicklow: Baltinglass; Dublin: Naomh Mearnog; Louth: St Mary's-Ardee; Meath: Simonstown; Laois: Mountrath; Kildare: Moorefield; Offaly: St Rynagh's Carlow: Éire Óg; Longford: Clonguish; Kilkenny: Emeralds; Westmeath: Southern Gaels.

MUNSTER - Waterford: Roanmore Lisduggan; Kerry: Kerins O'Rahillys; Cork: Nemo Rangers; Limerick: Adare; Tipperary: Drom-Inch; Clare: Lissycassey.

CONNAUGHT - Galway: Oranmore/Maree; Leitrim: Bornacoola; Mayo: Balla; Roscommon: Kilglass Gaels; Sligo: St Mary's-Ballydoogan.

ULSTER - Donegal: Ard an Ratha; Monaghan: Clontibret-O'Neills; Down: Clonduff; Cavan: Kingscourt Stars; Tyrone: Naomh Columcille; Antrim: Gort na Mona; Armagh: Cuchullain; Derry: Ballinderry Shamrocks; Fermanagh: Kinawley-Brian Borus.

LAOIS SF (v Carlow): F Byron; D Ryan, J Higgins, P Conway; P Leonard, D Conroy, M McCormack; J Kealy, N Garvan; I Fitzgerald, C Conway, G Ramsbottom; S Kelly, M Lawlor, B McDonald.