DUBLIN COUNTY board last night defeated a motion opposing the player awards scheme, which goes before this weekend's annual congress in Sligo. Having deferred a decision on the matter at last month's meeting, delegates last night heard the case against the scheme proposed by the St Joseph's O'Connell Boys club but only 12 voted for the motion, which was comfortably defeated.

In Meath the county board meeting had been expected to discuss the issue but it wasn't raised by delegates and the county delegation at congress will be free to reach its own decision when the matter comes before Saturday's session. Whether the motion from Central Council, declaring the awards scheme to be in keeping with Rule 11 of the Official Guide, governing amateur status, is in order is expected to be clarified today when the Disputes Resolution Authority publishes its decision on a case taken by the Of One Belief group, which is opposed to the scheme and is calling for a change to the rule book if the scheme is to be approved.

Meanwhile, the much postponed Sigerson Cup semi-final between the Garda College and GMIT, scheduled for this afternoon, has been deferred again because of tomorrow evening's Connacht under-21 football final between Roscommon and Mayo.

It will now take place next Tuesday at 6.30pm, probably in Athlone at a venue to be confirmed. The final is fixed for April 22nd at a venue to be decided.