Munster Council chairman Sean Kelly has withdrawn from this year's GAA presidential election. The news isn't that much of a surprise, as he had earlier stated his reluctance to stand against Noel Walsh, his predecessor in the provincial chair and the only other candidate from Munster.
In a statement yesterday, Kelly announced his decision and re-iterated his intention of contesting the office - and becoming the first Kerryman to hold the presidency - at the next election in 2002.
Three candidates now remain in the election from an original field of six. Last month, Jim Berry, the outgoing Leinster chairman, and PJ McGrath, former Connacht and current Mayo chairman, withdrew.
Still in contention are Monaghan's Sean McCague, runner-up to Joe McDonagh three years ago and a former chairman of the GAC; Albert Fallon, a former Leinster chairman; and Noel Walsh.
At the moment McCague is seen as the front-runner - the last three presidents had been runners-up at the election prior to their success. Regional considerations will play a large role in the other candidacies. Fallon will hope to take as much as possible from Leinster (the biggest block vote among the provinces), whereas Walsh will be glad to have the Munster field to himself as he attempts to become the first president from the southern province since Cork's Con Murphy over 20 years ago.
The edited text of Kelly's statement is: an at the forthcoming congress of CLG, I wish to advise that I have requested the Ard Stiurthoir CLG to withdraw my name from the list of candidates on this occasion. "I am withdrawing a clear six weeks prior to congress - declarations don't close until April 2nd - because:
i) Overseas and county delegates deserve to know the field as early as possible.
ii) My colleague and predecessor as cathaoirleach Comhairle na Mumhan, Noel Walsh, has already indicated his intention to stand for the position.
iii) As the current cathaoirleach of Comhairle na Mumhan I have a full two years to serve in that position. We have a very ambitious and exciting programme of work planned for this year and next. Our recently restructured committees are deeply involved in planning for the new millennium. . . "Finally I would like to apologise to all those who offered me support, but I want to assure them that it is my fervent wish to be a serious and hopefully successful candidate on the next occasion. I extend best wishes to the remaining candidates and assure the successful candidate of my full and total support."
Meanwhile, GAC secretary Sean O Laoire has said the committee's inquiry into the half-time "tunnel" incidents during the Westmeath-Wicklow football league match will begin with a consideration of the referee's report next Tuesday.
"GAC will discuss the referee's report at its next meeting which is scheduled for the day before St Patrick's Day and action will be taken as soon as possible," he said yesterday.
This weekend, O Laoire will be in Inverness for the Hurling-Shinty international between Ireland and Scotland. Ireland, represented by Railway Cup champions Leinster at senior level, and a national selection at under-21, will be trying to improve on their recent track record in the series.
Although it attracts far less attention than the footballing equivalent, International Rules series against Australia, the hurlingshinty connection is longer established and more consistently-realised than the football. With an interlude between 1980-88, the match has been played annually since 1972 when Tom Neville, this year's Leinster coach, then a Wexford player, was on the first Irish team to participate.
In 1988, the series was revived at under-21 level, and five years later a senior level was added. Since then, Ireland have failed to win a match at senior. A 3-3 draw in Athenry in 1993 was as near as the Irish have come to success. Even the re-introduction of points in 1996 didn't manage to spark an up-turn in Irish fortunes, and on a miserable day in Nowlan Park last year, when no goals were scored, the Irish still lost, 0-7 to 0-12.
Yet in overall terms the record is finely balanced with both countries having seven wins and two draws.
All-Ireland club finalists Ballina Stephenites and Crossmaglen Rangers are two of the teams taking part in a Gold Watch football Tournament at the Rathcline GAA club in Longford. The home club will also be competing together with Kilbride (Roscommon), last year's All-Ireland winners Corofin (Galway), Fr Manning Gaels (Longford), their nemeses from last November Eire Og (Carlow) and Leinster finalists Kilamcud Crokes (Dublin).
News has arrived of last Sunday's Varsity football match between Oxford and Cambridge. Played under International Rules, the match was won by Cambridge on a scoreline of 2-3-9 (30) to 0-44 (16).
