TONIGHT'S Games Administration Committee meeting is unlikely to make any decision in relation to players who might have played in last month's New York football final replay without proper authorisation.
At the moment, only the Kerry county board have drawn attention to a number of their players who might be affected but questions surround players in Donegal, Cavan and Armagh.
Any disciplinary action that might be taken against the Kerry players, Dara O Se, Fergal O Se, Dara O Cinneide and Sean Geaney, will have to be communicated to the players first before any public announcement is made on the subject.
At a press briefing in Croke Park yesterday, GAA director general Liam Mulvihill responded to the charge that as the players being caught constituted such a small proportion of those actually transgressing, punishing them would amount to scapegoating.
"This always comes up. If you're driving along and a car speeds by and nothing happens but you're caught down the road. It's just the luck of the game. The first job is for the GAC to deal with those who have owned up."
He went on to say that he wouldn't personally be in favour of accepting photographic evidence against players who might have been pictured at the match.
Tonight's meeting is believed likely to consider three options: One, to press ahead and punish the players who have owned up; two, to do nothing at all about the breach; three, to delay consideration of the matter until after next Saturday's Central Council meeting.
The third option has the merit of allowing the GAC to take into account the views of the counties as expressed by the delegates at the weekend. One way or the other, a conclusion to the matter is not expected tonight.
At Belfield campus yesterday, details were announced of the UCD Gaelic football scholarships for this year. Altogether, there are eight students benefiting from the scheme, including three who have been added this year - Cian McGrath of Meath, Peter Andrews of Dublin and David Stynes, also of Dublin, who is a brother of Australian Rules star Jim and Dublin's All-Ireland midfielder Brian.
These three join Trevor Giles, Meath's All-Ireland winning Player of the Year, John Lynch, captain of this year's Kerry Minors, John Divilly (Galway), Kieran O'Sullivan (Kerry) and John Hegarty of Wexford.
The schemes are funded by the UCD Sports Development Trust in the case of Giles and Lynch. The UCD Gaelic Football Club Graduates Committee sponsor the others with the help of Brian Brennan of the Stillorgan Park Hotel who funds Hegarty, and Kepak, who sponsor McGrath.
UCD are currently Sigerson Cup champions and this afternoon, at Belfield, play Trinity in the annual colours match.
