All Star tour to Argentina in doubt

GAELIC GAMES/News: A final decision on this month's All Star hurling tour to Argentina will be made at a special meeting in Croke Park today. GAA president Seán McCague and director general Liam Mulvihill will take into account advice from the Irish Embassy in Buenos Aires before deciding if the tour should go ahead as planned.

The latest information from the embassy has been that the economic crises that caused substantial riots last month is largely under control and they didn't foresee any further problems. Yet the situation remains potentially volatile and the GAA is not prepared to face unnecessary risks.

"Our priority is the safety of the players and officials in the travelling party," said Danny Lynch, press officer of the GAA. "We have been in constant touch with the embassy in Argentina and so far the we have got a positive response. But we will take stock of the situation tomorrow before giving our final response."

The tour, sponsored by Eircell Vodafone, is to feature the 2000 All Star selection in a game against the 2001 selection. The party consists of 50 people and is due to depart on the 23rd of this month for one week, with the game set for the 26th.

It was also disclosed yesterday that an alternative tour in a different South American country, as yet unnamed, is being planned should the Argentina trip fall through. Substantial preparations, however, have already been put in place by the Buenos Aires hurling club, which has a long history of association with the game.

Meanwhile, the trend of New Year retirements continued yesterday with the announcement that Kevin Cahill is opting out of the Mayo football panel. The full back has informed manager Pat Holmes that the level of commitment now involved was the main reason behind his decision.

Cahill had been a familiar fixture in the Mayo defence for much of the last decade, first coming in under the management of Brian McDonald, but at the age of 29 he now feels the time has come to retire.

"I just can't afford the time anymore," he said. "I was spending at least 20 hours a week on the training pitch last year and I just can't keep it up."

While his retirement has left Holmes without one of his most experienced players, there is no great lack of replacements. Tom Nallen, who was the number one stand-in last season, and Pat Coyne are the prime candidates to replace Cahill. Holmes has two games in the Connacht league this weekend (Sligo on Saturday and Roscommon on Sunday) to try out further candidates.

Some positive news for Holmes is the return of James Horan. The 1999 All Star took a break from the game after the 1999 semi-final loss to Cork, but he has been back training with the panel in the New Year.

Another experienced player to announce his retirement is Tyrone's Ciaran McBride. Also aged 29, he was part of the team that reached the All-Ireland in 1995. After playing a limited role in Tyrone's championship run last year he has decided to bow out.

Louth's Stephen Melia, one of the oldest players still in the game, is taking time to contemplate his future. Melia was left off the team for Sunday's O'Byrne Cup semi-final against Wicklow by new manager Paddy Carr, although that doesn't necessarily mean the end of his career.

Having made his debut way back in 1985, Melia recently turned 40 but still feels he can contribute to the Louth team.

The Clare football panel will enter the league without four of its most experienced players. Martin Daly (back) and Barry Keating (illness) have retired on medical advice, while Peader McMahon and Joe Considine will also be missing for at least the next few months.

McMahon is set to undergo surgery for a shoulder injury, and Considine has opted for the hurling panel in yet another blow to the survival of the dual player. Now based back in Clare after a period in Dublin, Considine was able to make the full commitment to hurling and that was enough to convince manager Cyril Lyons to add him to his panel.