GAA CHAMPIONSHIP 2002/Munster SH first round: A major controversy in the GAA was averted last night after Waterford hurlers backed down from their threat to refuse to undergo drug-testing procedures. The situation arose in Thurles after the county's gripping and unexpected victory over Cork in the Munster hurling championship.

At a stage when supporters and media were waiting to gain access to the winning dressing-room, it emerged that the players were refusing to comply with the post-match procedures.

Eventually the matter was resolved but only after the players had departed to their hotel. The Waterford county board had been strenuously warned about the consequences of refusing to comply and eventually, after representations from both the Munster Council and the Irish Sports Council (ISC) drug-tester Al Guy, the protest was dropped.

"I have a simple announcement," said Munster PRO Fr Seamus Gardiner later in the evening. "The matter has been resolved and the samples have been taken."

It remains to be seen if further action will be taken on the matter. Al Guy - the tester who conducted the test that led to the suspension of Olympic medallist Michelle de Bruin - will submit a report to both the GAA and the ISC about the matter this morning.

Indications from the Waterford camp were confused about the origins of the confrontation. Initially county chairman Paddy Joe Ryan - who came from a meeting with officials and spoke to the assembled media after the team and management had left through the back door - said that the protest had been brewing for a while.

"The players decided that they had not been fully informed on the question of drug testing and that they would not co-operate. That decision was taken a couple of weeks ago. We have been warned by Munster Council that there will be serious consequences if the tests do not go ahead, but the players have said that they are not prepared to put their private livelihoods at risk."

Asked why the players thought that this would be a consequence of submitting to procedures agreed and passed by GAA congress, he replied: "The players have been informed - and I don't know, I'm not a doctor - or led to believe that if you took four cups of the wrong type of coffee, you could be positive."

Yet, later in the evening, Waterford manager Justin McCarthy reportedly played down the protest, saying that it had arisen because of confusion over the testing procedures.

There is no doubt that this matter will trigger further controversy. It remains to be seen if it will be acceptable to the ISC that the players randomly selected - reportedly Brian Flannery and Paul Flynn - left the venue before submitting to the test.

It will also be interesting to see if the GAA issues a firm warning about this sort of behaviour in order to discourage repeat performances over the coming weeks.

The Cork players selected randomly for testing - reported to be Fergal Ryan and Ben O'Connor - attended without incident.

The question of drug testing has been a controversial one in the GAA since its introduction within the past year. Some inter-county managers at a press conference recently protested that they were unhappy with the regulations on doping.

Ironically, the confrontation detracted thoroughly from what should have been a major celebration for Waterford who defeated Cork in the championship for the first time in 13 years.

"I'm very upset," said Paddy Joe Ryan. "We only beat Cork once every 20 years. I should be back in the hotel celebrating."

In yesterday's football championship matches, Armagh showed last week's sraw with National League champions Tyrone was no one-off when they defeated the Ulster Championship favourites, who had to do without the injured Peter Canavan, by a three-point margin.

In Leinster Offaly anf Kildare recorded one-point wins over Laois and Louth respectively.