Kelly says county boards are responsible for dual issues

Conflicts over the availability of dual players should be decided at county board level, according to GAA president Seán Kelly. Several such conflicts have arisen in different counties in recent weeks, some of which remain unresolved, yet Kelly also made it clear dual players should be accommodated if at all possible.

"Well I suppose the games have been evolving more and more in recent years," said Kelly, present in Croke Park yesterday for the AIB Club of the Year awards.

"A lot of it does come down to the attitude of the managers, but, ultimately, it does come down to the county board, who are responsible for appointing the managers in the first place."

Among the high-profile players currently caught up in the conflict is Dublin's Conal Keaney, who started with the footballers in Sunday's National League despite being originally named to play for the Dublin hurlers in their Walsh Cup tie against Kilkenny.

Keaney is expected to revert to hurling for the start of the hurling league, but his long-term future remains unclear.

"I do think," added Kelly, "that if players are willing to commit to both games, and of course if they are good enough, then we should try to overcome whatever obstacles stand in their way, and accommodate them as best we can.

"But I feel it's very unfair to be putting any pressure on the players. They shouldn't be put in a position where they feel under pressure to commit to one game or the other.

"So in that regard I think ultimately the situation should be worked out at county board level.But if county boards do decide they want to put the emphasis on one particular code then there's nothing we can really do about it."

On a different issue, Kelly also made it clear that funding was the only item up for discussion when the GAA meet Government representatives over the coming days.

The meeting has been arranged in light of the Government's decision to press ahead with the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road as the National Stadium, which is set to receive significant exchequer funding.

"Right now, funding is the number one item on our agenda," he said, "and in fact the only item. We want to ensure that the funding that is being made available to the GAA is the same as the other main sporting organisations.

"But the vibes I'm getting from the Government is that they have a clear understanding of our situation, and are sympathetic towards it."

The decision to redevelop Lansdowne Road, he added, shouldn't have any huge bearing on motions to open Croke Park to other sports, which will be debated at Congress in April. "I suppose it does alleviate feelings of undue pressure on the GAA to do something about the matter, but on the other side of the coin there is still the question of what to do with major games with crowds in excess of 50,000. So it's still up to the GAA themselves to make that decision at Congress."

Kelly then went on to the formal presentations of the club awards, with Dublin club St Jude's first taking the Leinster award, and then the top honour of Club of the Year for 2003 - which comes with a prize of 17,000. It was the fourth year of such awards, during which time entries have increased fourfold.

In taking the top honour, St Jude's saw off fellow provincial winners Portumna (Connacht), Patrickswell (Munster) and Malin (Ulster).

Each of the provincial winners received a 5,000 development cheque, on top of the 2,000 received for winning the county award.

The rise of St Jude's, based in Templeogue, has already been one of the great GAA club success stories. Founded in 1978 with just two juvenile teams, it now boasts 54 teams across all grade and codes.

The judging panel highlighted their proactive role within their local community and outstanding work promoting the game within local schools. A new all-weather pitch constructed in association with Templeogue soccer club has also proved hugely beneficial to the area.

Later in the afternoon, Croke Park was also the venue for the official launch of the women's National Football League, which for the second year is sponsord by Suzuki. Already the first round of games have taken place, with the Division One final set for April 18th - to be broadcast live on TG4. This year's league will see Laois attempt to become the first county since Waterford in 1998 to retain the title.

CLUB OF THE YEAR AWARDS

OVERALL: St Jude's (Leinster)

PROVINCIAL WINNERS: St Jude's (Leinster), Portumna (Connacht), Patrickswell (Munster), Malin (Ulster)

CONNACHT: Galway: Portumna GAA Club; Leitrim: St Mary's GAA Club; Mayo: Crossmolina Deel Rovers; Roscommon: Elphin; Sligo: Eastern Harps GAA.

LEINSTER: Carlow: Tinryland GAA; Dublin: St Jude's GAA Club; Kildare: Confey GAA; Kilkenny: Piltown GAA Club; Laois: The Heath; Longford: Clonguish GFC; Louth: Mattock Rangers GFC; Meath: Simonstown Gaels GAA; Offaly: Shamrocks GAA Club; Westmeath: Tyrrellspass GAA; Wexford: St Martin's GAA Club; Wicklow: Rathnew GAA.

MUNSTER: Clare: Wolfe Tones; Cork: Newtownshandrum; Kerry: An Ghaeltacht; Limerick: Patrickswell; Tipperary: Moyle Rovers; Waterford: Ballygunner GAA Club.

ULSTER: Antrim: St Mary's Ahoghill; Armagh: Crossmaglen Rangers GFC; Cavan: Butlersbridge Emmets; Derry: Watty Grahams GAC; Donegal: Malin GAA Club; Down: Castlewellan CLG; Fermanagh: Lisnaskea Emmetts GAC; Monaghan: Latton O'Rahilly's; Tyrone: Strabane.

Consolation winners of the voucher for €3,000 worth of GAA gear: Na Piarsaigh, Co Galway; Holycross-Ballycahill GAA Club, Co Tipperary.