GAA: Cork and Dublin appear set to name their new senior hurling managers prior to Christmas. Interviews for the vacant positions in both counties have been ongoing, with indications that the appointments are about to be made in the coming days.

The Cork County Board has yet to comment on the list of candidates to succeed Bertie Óg Murphy, but Donal O'Grady has emerged as one of the leading contenders.

The St Finbarr's club man played at full back in Cork's 1984 All-Ireland victory over Offaly, and was also involved as a selector in 1986 when they defeated Galway in the final.

The Dublin County Board has made tentative arrangements to announce their hurling manager tomorrow. It is believed that Séamus Murphy, the former Wexford under-21 hurling manger, and Marty Morris from the O'Tooles club are the two main candidates for the position vacated by Kevin Fennelly.

Meanwhile, as the county convention season concludes it is clear the GAA is coming under increasing pressure to end all sponsorship deals with the alcoholic drinks industry.

A motion on the matter from the Tyrone County Board, put before convention by the Eglish club, will be tabled at Congress next April.

The resolution is to amend Rule 13 of the GAA's Official Guide, so that from January 1st, 2004, the association "shall not permit the arrangement of sponsorship of any competition, or any team, club, county or provincial unit under its auspices by an alcoholic drinks company".

It also calls for any existing sponsorship arrangements of this nature to end by December 31st, 2004.

At the Clare County Convention there was also calls for the GAA to break its link with drinks' sponsorship, though the issue received a mixed response.

Central Council delegate Tom Downes acknowledged that there was concern about the sponsorship, but they were legally contracted to such companies until 2004. However, Corofin chairman Fr Ger Nash urged the association to make "a statement of intent" and end the link.

A motion was passed by the Clare County Convention calling for the setting up of separate boards to govern hurling and football, which will go before Congress next year.