Counties want rule decision clarified

Representatives from the eight counties which submitted motions to open Croke Park to other sports last night assembled at a special meeting in Portlaoise, intent on pursuing a full explanation why their motions were pulled from next month's GAA Congress.

A statement on their next course of action is expected today, but one of those present, Roscommon's Tommy Kenoy, admitted that for now their hands seem to be tied.

The eight counties - Longford, Wicklow, Dublin, Laois, Roscommon, Mayo, Cavan and Clare - had all submitted motions either to amend Rule 42 or to devolve authority on the matter to Central Council. Then, last Monday week, it was announced that all the motions had been declared out of order by the GAA's motions committee.

"The main purpose of the meeting is to look at exactly what happened to the motions," said Kenoy. "And then to see what we can do next, if we can do anything at all. We do feel the committee acted contrary to the GAA rules. Although there's not much we can do about that."

Elsewhere, Derry have begun the search for a new senior hurling manager after Dominic McGinley yesterday announced his resignation, citing a serious lack of commitment on the players' behalf.

The National Leagues, meanwhile, continue this weekend with a full round of matches in both hurling and football - and with places in the football play-offs still up for grabs with only two rounds remaining. Stuck in the mid-table of Division One A are Dublin and Cork, who meet in Parnell Park on Sunday knowing a win could see them reach the play-offs, and a loss could threaten relegation.

Cork make just the one change from their win over Longford, with Gary Murphy in at corner back in place of the injured Noel O'Leary. Dublin, as usual, won't announce a team until prior to throw-in.

In hurling, one of the key clashes takes place in Walsh Park and the meeting of Waterford and Galway. After losing to Clare last weekend, Galway manager Conor Hayes was expected to make some changes; he settled on just one, giving his nephew David Hayes - one of the stars of Waterford IT - a start at corner forward in place of Mark Kerins.

Dublin, meanwhile, face off against Laois in Portlaoise in the game that might yet decide who survives in Division One B. Humphrey Kelleher has made four changes, with Ger O'Meara making his debut in goal in place of Brendan McLoughlin.

TIPPERARY (SH v Antrim): B Cummins; T Costello, J Devane, M Phelan; D Fanning, D Kennedy, D Fitzgerald; E Enright, O Kelly; P O'Brien, J Carroll, B Dunne; S Butler, G O'Grady, L Corbett.

CORK (SF v Dublin): K O'Dwyer; S O'Brien, G Canty, G Murphy; R Sexton, A Lynch, M Cronin; M O'Sullivan, D Hurley; K McMahon, C McCarthy, A Cronin; P Clifford, M O'Croinin, C Crowley.

CORK (SH v Offaly): D Cusack; W Sherlock, D O'Sullivan, M Prendergast; G Callinan, R Curran, C O'Connor; J Gardiner, P Tierney; J O'Callaghan, M Byrne, K Murphy (Erin's Own); K Murphy (Sarsfields), B Lombard, S McGrath.

DUBLIN (SH v Laois): G O'Meara; A de Paor, S Perkins, C O'Brien; S Daly, K Wilson, S Hiney; D Sweeney, R Fallon; C Keaney, L Ryan, M Carton; T Moore, S Martin, K Flynn.

GALWAY (SH v Waterford): L O'Donoghue; D Joyce, S Cloonan, O Canning; D Hardiman, D Hayes, C Moore; F Healy, T Regan; A Kerins, D Forde, D Tierney; D Hayes, E Cloonan, R Gantley.

TYRONE (SF v Westmeath): P McConnell; R McMenamin, C Gourley, M McGee; B Donnelly, G Devlin, P Jordan; K Hughes, G Cavlan; B Dooher, B McGuigan, S O'Neill; M Harte, O Mulligan, E McGinley.

WATERFORD (SH v Galway): I O'Regan; B Phelan, D Prendergast, L Lawlor; D Coffey, T Browne, E Murphy; M Walsh, D Bennett; D Shanahan, S Ryan, J Kennedy; J Mullane, P Flynn, P O'Brien.

WESTMEATH (SF v Tyrone): G Connaughton; J Davitt, D Gavin, J Keane; B Morley, R Casey, D Heavin; R O'Connell, G Dolan; A N Other, S Colleary, A Mangan; F Wilson, P Martin, D Dolan.