Defenders all

It's nothing new for some GAA counties to name "bogey" teams before a crucial match in the hope that it will unnerve the opposition…

It's nothing new for some GAA counties to name "bogey" teams before a crucial match in the hope that it will unnerve the opposition. But Monday's double-header in Tullamore was a whole different matter.

Bemused on-lookers were certainly baffled when they opened the programme of the Laois-Dublin hurling game and the Westmeath-Laois football game to find their teams were lining out with nine defenders, two "midfielders" and three forwards.

Of course, we're sure it all comes down to a simple printing error. Let's just hope the Clare hurlers didn't get a look at it or else who knows what ideas they will get.

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Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan is an Irish Times sports journalist writing on athletics