Dublin club must play twice in 24 hours

Leinster Club Championship: The Leinster Council last night decided against deferring by a week the club football quarter-final involving the Dublin champions against Rathnew of Wicklow. This forces either UCD or St Vincent's to contest this year's provincial championship just 24 hours after their county final.

With the Leinster quarter-final going ahead as scheduled in Aughrim this Sunday (2.30), the Dublin football final has been set for Saturday at Parnell Park, with a 2 p.m. throw-in. Two periods of extra-time have also been allocated to help ensure a result can be determined on the day.

The Dublin title is eventually being decided two weeks late because of delays in sorting out the controversial Na Fianna dispute. Late last week the awaited Dublin champions were still in danger of missing their date in the Leinster championship until the High Court ended Na Fianna's hope of returning to the championship.

A letter from the Dublin County Board was received by the Leinster Council ahead of last night's meeting, outlining the list of reasons behind Dublin's request for a postponement. The hope was to get the quarter-final match rescheduled for November 24th - giving either UCD or St Vincent's a week's recovery.

Instead, the Leinster Council feared further fixture problems down the road if they agreed to the postponement, particularly because of the already tight schedule and the risk of bad weather also interfering with the fixed dates.

Dublin County Board chairman John Bailey, however, was a little surprised that their request could not be granted.

"I'm very disappointed to hear that they couldn't postpone the fixture for a week," he said. "Most of all I feel sorry for the players. They put in a huge amount of voluntary time to the clubs, and to play two days in row in the difficult conditions of this time of the year is an awful lot to ask.

"But other people had to make the decision on this. And I do respect the Leinster Council's decision, and I do accept it. But I do think there was a gap there. The final is not down to be played until December 8th, and just last year they ended up playing in Leinster until the Sunday before Christmas.

"The court case that delayed our championship wasn't all the county board's making, and we had to defend the decision of our GAC. And for the players to be told four days before the weekend that they have to be out twice in the one weekend is going to be very difficult.

"It would have been so much better to have them playing three weekends in a row, than two games in 24 hours."

It is understood that Rathnew were not too keen on the fixture been postponed, yet at no point either had they been truly expecting a bye.

The seven-in-a-row county title holders beat Dublin opponents Na Fianna is last year's competition, and will also enjoy home advantage for the game at Aughrim.

The other remaining quarter-final between Rathvilly of Carlow and Meath champions Dunshaughlin also goes ahead as planned this Sunday.

Moorefield (Kildare) and Mattock Rangers (Louth) will contest the first semi-final in Navan on November 24th.

The Leinster Council, meanwhile, has also confirmed the draw for the preliminary round of next year's provincial hurling championship, with the dates still to go before the GAC for confirmation.

Seven counties will, similar to last year, play off for a place in the Leinster semi-final - where this year the All-Ireland champions Kilkenny await them. Offaly and Wexford will contest the other semi-final.

In one half of the draw, Dublin received a bye. Kildare play against Westmeath, with the winners meeting Dublin.

In the other half of the draw, Laois play Wicklow, and Meath play Carlow. The winners play off to meet either Dublin, Kildare or Westmeath in the final. The two teams to reach the preliminary final are guaranteed a place in the All-Ireland qualifiers. The other counties will get a second chance in the All-Ireland B championship.

As yet, however, there is still no confirmation on whether Kevin Fennelly will remain as Dublin hurling manager for another season, though it is understood that a development on the matter will be announced by the Dublin County Board within the next week.