Down, Dublin teams to compete in Rackard

News:The GAA confirmed yesterday that second teams from Down and Dublin would compete in the Nicky Rackard Cup in 2008.

This year's finalists will be promoted to the Christy Ring Cup, which has no relegation, while non-Ards (Down) and Fingal (Dublin) sides will be entered "on a basis determined by the Central Competitions Control Committee".

A GAA statement on Tuesday noted a South Dublin team would also enter the Christy Ring Cup in 2008 but they yesterday clarified, stating that was incorrect.

Meanwhile, the Dublin County Board secretary John Costello released the following statement: "Reports that Dublin will enter three teams in the All-Ireland hurling championships in 2008 are incorrect. Congress 2007 decided that Dublin will enter the Liam MacCarthy competition and a representative team from North Dublin will participate in the Nicky Rackard Cup. Our county committee will be seeking an assurance that this is not a surreptitious attempt by the Hurling Development Committee to pressurise Dublin to enter a team in the Christy Ring Cup also.

"Dublin have consistently argued that the proposed format for Division One of the National Hurling League for 2008 does nothing for the second-tier hurling counties and its revised format was designed for the elite counties only. Perhaps Dublin should apologise for surviving in Division One of the Hurling League."