Everything points to relegation for Kildare

GAA: Kildare are facing almost certain relegation from Division 1B of the National Football League after losing their two points from the win over Sligo on February 9th.

The GAA's Games Administration Committee (GAC) has ruled Kildare in breach of Rule 109 (B), which refers to the use of substitutes not listed on the official team sheet, and as a result awarded the points to Sligo.

While Sligo originally pointed out the error to GAC, reporting that Kildare listed only their 15 starting players on the team sheet and no substitutions, they subsequently wrote to Croke Park to say it wasn't their intention to actually claim the league points. They also wanted the original correspondence withdrawn.

It was clear from the moment the error was pointed out, however, that the GAC were left with no choice but to deem Kildare in breach of the rule, the penalty for which is forfeiture of the game.

It means that Kildare, who were already at the bottom of Division 1B, now have no points from their four league games and will need to win at least two of their three remaining games against Mayo, Down and Laois to avoid relegation.

Sligo, who were previously second last, now move above Down into sixth place with four points from four games.

One more victory from their remaining three games should be enough to secure their top-flight status for another season. They play Laois on Sunday, followed by Fermanagh and Cavan.

For Kildare, the decision represents the second time in a year they have lost league points as a result of a breach of regulations on the sideline.

Last year, also against Sligo, they breached the substitute rules by using a sixth player as a blood replacement in addition to the five permitted substitutes.

Ironically, both those rules appear set to be amended under the new disciplinary proposals announced at Croke Park oTuesday, and which will go before next month's congress for approval.

Several player suspensions, meanwhile, were also announced by the GAC yesterday. Colm Cooper of Kerry and John Coffey of Waterford both received four-week bans from the date of the football league games against Galway and Longford respectively on February 16th.

Brian Lacey of Kildare (playing against Meath) was suspended for four weeks also from February 16th, while John Conlon of Monaghan received a 12-week suspension from February 15th. Brian Considine of Clare (against Wexford) was suspended for eight weeks from March 2nd.

In hurling, Aidan Delargy of Antrim was suspended for 12 weeks from February 23rd for an incident in the hurling league game against Down, while Liam Clarke of Down, who was sent off in the same game, was exonerated as a result of video evidence.

Louth's Paudie Larkin and Armagh's Brian Mallon received four weeks and 12 weeks respectively as a result of incidents in their counties respective hurling league games against Cavan and Donegal.

Athenry's Eugene Cloonan and David Donohoe received eight weeks and 12 weeks suspension respectively as a consequence of incidents in the All-Ireland club hurling semi final against Birr in Ennis on March 16th.

The GAC have also finalised the remaining times and venues for this weekend's double hit of the National League.

Wexford Park will host a double-bill on Sunday, with Wexford against Cork in the hurling (2.15) and then Wexford against Tipperary in the football (3.45).

In team news, Tyrone's Peter Canavan makes his first league start of the season for Sunday's clash with All-Ireland champions Armagh at Omagh.

Tommy Lyons has made eight changes to his Dublin team to play Cork in Parnell Park on Sunday.

Reintroduced are goalkeeper Brian Murphy, defenders David Henry, Peadar Andrews and Declan Cahill, with Johnny Magee joining Kieran Whelan at midfield.

Senan Connell and John McNally also returns to the forward line, along with Jason Sherlock, who gets his first league start of the season.

DUBLIN (SF v Cork): B Murphy; D Henry, P Christie, P Andrews; P Casey, D Cahill, C Goggins; C Whelan, J McGee; S Connell, B Cullen, C Moran; J Sherlock, R Cosgrove, J McNally.

WATERFORD (SH v Laois): S Brenner; D Prendergast, T Feeney, J Murray; E Murphy, F Hartley, P Queally; T Browne, E McGrath; P Fitzgerald, K McGrath, D Bennett; P O'Brien, M Walsh, J Mullane.

TYRONE (SF v Armagh): P McConnell; R McMenamin, C Holmes, M McGee; C Gormley, G Devlin, P Jordan; R Mellon, S Cavanagh; S Mulgrew, B McGuigan, B Dooher; F McGuigan, P Canavan, O Mulligan.

ARMAGH (SF v Tyrone): P Hearty; A Mallon, J McNulty, F Bellew; K Hughes, A O'Rourke, P McCormack; P McGrane, P Loughran; P McKeever, J McEntee, O McConville; S McDonnell, M O'Rourke, T McEntee.

MAYO (SF v Kildare): P Burke; K Mortimer, P Kelly, R Connelly; A Roche, G Mullins, F Costello; D Heaney, F Kelly; J Gill, D Sweeney, D Tiernan; M Sheridan, A Dillon, C Mortimer.

LAOIS (SH v Waterford): J Lyons; L Mahon, Patrick Cuddy, P Mahon; C Cuddy, Paul Cuddy, M McEvoy; J Young, D Rooney; B McCormack, L Tynan, J Phelan; D Culleton, D Cuddy, T Fitzgerald.

LIMERICK (SF v Offaly): S O'Donnell; M O'Riordan, D Sheehy, T Stack, L Lavin, A N Other, P Browne; J Quane, J Galvin; C Mullane, J Murphy, J Stokes, S Kelly, B Begley, M Gavin.