While the scheduling of National Hurling league fixtures for 2014 remains anything but certain there is at least some progress at provincial level.
The Connacht Council has announced the format for their pre-season football tournament, the FBD League, the big difference for 2014 being the elimination of the “away” final in New York.
For the last two years the FBD champions, Mayo (2012) and Leitrim (2013), failed to fulfil the New York final. This was traditionally played in the autumn, and that has convinced the council to do away with that away fixture entirely.
Dates and venues
The 2014 competition will begin on the weekend of January 5th with Section A (Roscommon, Sligo IT, Mayo and NUIG) and Section B (Galway, Sligo, Leitrim and GMIT) playing
off to produce two finalists, set for January 26th.
The Leinster Council met last night to agree dates and venues for their 2014 championship. The main consequence was Dublin were afforded the home venue of Croke Park for their football quarter-final meeting with either Laois or Wicklow. Portlaoise might have made a case for hosting the game, should Laois progress. But it has been decided instead that the All-Ireland champions will feature as part of a Croke Park double bill, along with the other quarter-final involving Kildare and the winners of Westmeath-Louth.
There has also been the provisional Friday scheduling of the first-round football game between Longford and Offaly, although this will involve further negotiations with the counties before confirmation.
Meanwhile, Cork hurling manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy has confirmed that he will not fill the vacancy created by selector and hurling coach Ger Cunningham’s resignation.
'Excellent coach'
Instead, selector Kieran Kingston will take on the role of coach for 2014
which he has done in the past when Cunningham was unavailable.
“Kieran is an excellent and experienced coach,” said Barry-Murphy, “and we are delighted that he has agreed to step up to this position. Kieran has asked me to get more involved in the coaching set-up when necessary and I’ll be happy to do so.”
Fellow selectors Johnny Crowley (Bishopstown) and Seánie McGrath (Glen Rovers) will also continue for 2014, with Irish 800m record holder David Matthews also continuing as fitness coach for a third year.
