Laois closer to a solution

A resolution to the row involving the Laois County Board and the Portlaoise club is expected this morning. Earlier this week the club withdrew its players from both the county football and hurling panels after the county board refused to postpone a club championship match last Friday week, but called a temporary truce yesterday ahead of last night's meeting with the county executive.

The club sent a four-man delegate to the meeting - the club chairman, secretary and treasurer, along with club and county footballer Aidan Fennelly to represent the players - to present their concerns and reasoning behind the withdrawal, which they claim was necessary to highlight the lack of consideration given to club championship preparations.

The county executive are due to meet again this morning to decide on the terms of the resolution. Portlaoise were deducted two points for failing to fulfil their fixture with the St Joseph's club, and the refixing of that game is now expected.

In the meantime, footballers Kevin Fitzpatrick, Colm Parkinson, Brian McCormack and Fennelly have returned to county training, as have hurlers Joe Phelan and Cahir Healy, both of whom are expected to feature in Sunday's Leinster quarter-final against Offaly.

Football manager Mick O'Dwyer and his hurling counterpart Dinny Cahill were involved in the talks that led to the truce, but the main issue of the row - the desire for county players to be released two weeks before club matches - highlights the enduring problem of club versus county commitments, and the resolution reached will be closely observed by all counties.