Laois board meet over players

The Laois football board met last night in an attempt to avert the latest outbreak of hostilities in the county. The now annual bout of infighting comes as a result of Mick O'Dwyer promoting four under-21 players to the senior panel for last Sunday's National League semi-final defeat to Kerry.

As a result, under-21 manager Seán Dempsey dropped the four in question - Donie Brennan, Colm Munnelly and the two Colm Kellys - just a week before the All-Ireland semi-final against Cork in Limerick.

Dempsey was obviously disappointed the underage game did not take priority. The 2003 All-Ireland-winning minor manager was unavailable for comment last night and did not attend the board meeting.

"It is all just a big misunderstanding," said county board secretary Niall Handy. "We hope it can be sorted out over the next few days. The board are discussing it with the relevant parties."

Whether the players' case for reinstatement to the under-21 panel is being considered en bloc is also unclear as Brennan and Colm Kelly of St Joseph's both played club football over the weekend. Matters will become clearer after tonight's training session but preparations for Sunday have undoubtedly been hindered.

Meanwhile, the Kilkenny-Tipperary National Hurling League semi-final will take place in Thurles at 3.15pm this Sunday despite a direct clash with the European Cup rugby semi-final between Munster and Leinster.

Kilkenny hoped to switch the game to Nowlan Park, as part of a long-standing "home and away" arrangement between the counties, and to an evening throw-in, but the initial GAC decision remained when Croke Park released yesterday's official fixture list.

TG4 will televise the game live as part of a triple bill of Gaelic games, starting at 1.30pm with Limerick against Clare, also in Semple Stadium, Thurles.

The third game is the football league final between Kerry and Galway at Limerick's Gaelic Grounds at 5.30pm.

In other hurling matters, Tipperary received good news about Benny Dunne's knee injury. Last year's team captain is expected to return to action before the championship despite recently damaging knee ligaments.

GAA president Seán Kelly announced yesterday that Self Help Development International has been designated as the GAA's official charity for 2006. The Irish charity has been implementing long-term, sustainable development programmes in East Africa for the past 22 years.

Thee GAA have set a target of €100,000 to be raised at grassroots level over the next eight months, though no collections will take place at grounds. However, the big screen in Croke Park will be used to promote the charity throughout the championship.

Tyrone champions Carrickmore have parted company with their new manager Chris Brown after just two league games. Brown guided his native Derry to an All-Ireland minor title.