London win appeal over refixture

The London County Committee has successfully appealed the GAA's decision to refix their home National Football League game against Leitrim for a neutral venue, in Ireland, after claiming a dangerous precedent was being set along with the potential for unfair repercussions on the outcome Division Two.

The round-three game was set for February 25th at London's home grounds in Ruislip, but was postponed that morning because of a waterlogged pitch. Leitrim had travelled the night before, and sought to have the game refixed at an Irish venue because of the costs involved in travelling to London again.

The GAA's Competitions Control Committee last week refixed the game for Sunday, and opted for Newbridge, prompted by concerns over the Ruislip pitch. However, London secretary Niall Erskine then expressed his dissatisfaction, claiming a dangerous precedent was being set in ordering a game to be played at a neutral venue, so far in advance of the refixed date, when their own pitch was now playable.

That decision was yesterday appealed to the Central Appeals Committee, who ruled in favour of London. As a result Sunday's game, scheduled for Newbridge, has been postponed and a new date for the refixture has now to be agreed.

Erskine had disputed Leitrim's contention that the cost of the original trip to London was between €17,000 and €20,000, claiming their costs for a trip to Longford in round one were under €6,000.

Roscommon had aired their dissatisfaction at the refixing, claiming it could impact unfairly on the outcome of Division Two on the basis London are typically more difficult opponents on home soil. Roscommon played London away in round two, winning 1-16 to 0-10.

In hurling, Michael Babs Keating has announced four changes to his Tipperary team ahead of Sunday's hurling league round-three clash with Antrim in Templemore, despite the impressive manner in which they ended Kilkenny's unbeaten run last Sunday.

Gerry Kennedy is preferred in goal ahead of Brendan Cummins. Alan Byrne replaces Declan Fanning at left corner back, while last year's under-21 standout James Woodlock takes over from Shane McGrath in midfield. Micheál Webster returns at full forward to take over from 19-year-old Danny O'Hanlon, scorer of two goals over Kilkenny. It marks Webster's first league appearance of the season.

Cork manager Gerald McCarthy is looking to regain winning form in the trip to Ballygalget to play Down, and has made more sweeping changes: Anthony Nash takes over in goal from Donal Óg Cusack, while Patrick Fitzgerald, Kevin Hartnett, Mickey O'Connell and Jonathan O'Callaghan are given starting positions out the field.

Fitzgerald takes over from Brian Murphy at left corner back, and Hartnett at right wing back, with John Gardiner moving to left wing back to the exclusion of Cian O'Connor. O'Connell joins up again with Tom Kenny at midfield, with team captain Kieran Murphy of Erin's Own moving to right wing forward, allowing O'Callaghan to slot in at right corner forward. Neil Ronan and Diarmuid O'Sullivan are the players to miss out. Among those still ruled out by minor injury problems are Ben O'Connor and Sean Óg Ó hAilpín.

Dublin manager Tommy Naughton has named a unchanged team for Sunday's game against Galway at Parnell Park, announcing the same line-up picked to play in the postponed round-two game against Antrim. Kevin Flynn has been named at left full forward after coming through training on Tuesday night. Oranmore native Declan Qualter is set to face his native county in only his second league game for Dublin.

Wexford manager John Meyler has also announced an unchanged team for the clash with Offaly at Wexford Park.

Finally, Ballyhale Shamrocks are also unchanged for Saturday's All-Ireland club hurling final against Loughrea at Croke Park - lining out with the same 15 that beat Toomevara in the semi-final last month.

CORK(SH v Down): A Nash; W Sherlock, K Cronin, P Fitzgerald; K Hartnett, R Curran, J Gardiner; M O'Connell, T Kenny; K Murphy, N McCarthy, K Canty; J O'Callaghan, P Cronin, J Deane.

TIPPERARY(SH v Antrim): G Kennedy; E Buckley, P Curran, A Byrne; E Corcoran, C O'Mahony, B Dunne; J Woodlock, F Devanney; J Carroll, D Egan, L Corbett; E Kelly, M Webster, P Kelly.

DUBLIN(SH v Galway): G Maguire; P Brennan, S Hiney, T Brady; M Carton, R Fallon, D O'Reilly; J McCaffrey, J Boland; L Ryan, D Qualter, D Curtin; J Kelly, P O'Driscoll, K Flynn.

WEXFORD(SH v Offaly): D Fitzhenry; M Travers, D O'Connor, P Roche; C Lawlor, K Rossiter, C Kenny; S Nolan, R McCarthy; M Jacob, E Quigley, S Banville; P Carley, R Keogh, R Jacob.

BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS(v Loughrea): J Connolly; P Shefflin, E Walsh, P Holden; K Nowlan, A Cummins, B Aylward; J "Cha" Fitzpatrick, M Fennelly; E Fitzpatrick, H Shefflin, TJ Reid; E Reid, P Reid, M Aylward.