Clare and Offaly hurlers are today coming to terms with the announcement that they are to replay their All-Ireland hurling semi-final replay in Thurles next Saturday (3.30 p.m.). The original game was mistakenly ended two minutes prematurely by referee Jimmy Cooney in Croke Park on Saturday, prompting a spontaneous protest from Offaly supporters, who ran on to the pitch and refused to move.

When Cooney blew his whistle and spread his arms wide to end the match Clare had possession of the ball and a three-point lead. The Games Administration Committee of the GAA discussed the issue during a specially-convened meeting yesterday and released a statement stressing that they had no option but to refix the game in accordance with the association's Rule 138 in its official guide.

The rule states that should players, officials or supporters be found responsible for terminating a match, then the team in question is liable to disqualification but it also states (in Section B) that if a match "is prematurely ended for any other reason, it shall be refixed for the full period".

The GAC also pointed out that referee Jimmy Cooney, in his report, admitted that he "had erred in terminating the game" when he did and had asked not to be considered as an official in the event of a decision to replay the semi-final. Dickie Murphy of Wexford has been appointed for the match in Thurles.

While the Offaly squad felt that anything other than a replay would have been wholly unjust to their players, the Clare team and supporters are attempting to motivate themselves and prepare for a match which they believed they had won until news of the GAC decision broke.

"I believe the majority of supporters are mystified and angered by the decision. We were in effect celebrating on Saturday evening and sitting back in the belief that the GAC were to meet on Monday. It was after midnight on Saturday evening when (Clare manager) Ger Loughnane was informed that there might be a possibility of a replay," said a member of the Clare County Board, who did not wish to be named.

While Loughnane accepted the GAC's decision extremely graciously, there is a fear that the team might find it difficult to prepare satisfactorily for Saturday's replay.

"Well, Ollie Baker and Anthony Daly are extremely doubtful for the replay due to injuries they received during Saturday's match and obviously Clare would suffer from their absence," commented the County Board official.

Although two Offaly players were observed striking their opponents on Saturday, the Clare County Board do not intend calling for an investigation into the incidents. Clare midfield player Colin Lynch recently received a three-month suspension for a similar offence during the Munster final replay.

"Well, we make no apologies for saying that what is good for Colin Lynch should be good for everyone else, but we won't be calling for an investigation. We'll just ready ourselves for the replay", stated the Clare representative.

In an interview with RTE, Loughnane said the controversy could be attributed to basic "human error" and he said his team's attitude was best summed up by captain Anthony Daly, who greeted word of a replay by saying, "good, if we are to win anything, we should win it on merit".

Offaly county secretary Christy Todd agreed that the over-riding feeling in the county last night was one of relief.

"Yes, we are relieved that justice is to be done. We weren't all that surprised with the decision because the rules make provision for the situation, unusual as it was."

Todd attended yesterday morning's meeting in Croke Park and praised the GAA for the swiftness of their response to the controversy.

"They acted extremely quickly and I think they made the right decision. It's tough on Clare but they accepted it with good grace, which was great to see."

Meanwhile, the GAA Management Committee are to meet today to discuss the implementation of reduced admission costs for the replay. While the GAC does not decide on administrative affairs, they indicated that they had recommended to the Management Committee that such a concession be implemented.

The GAA are also in the process of organising a fund for the victims of last weekend's Omagh bombing, but contributions for that will not be drawn solely from the receipts of next weekend's replay, according to GAA President, Joe McDonagh.

"The rumours were flying around that this would be a specific game for that purpose and I would just like to clarify at this stage that it is not," he said yesterday evening.

"Overall, the central contribution will come from both the hurling and football championships this year at central level. Essentially, we are announcing the beginning of that," he explained.

Commenting that the GAA have yet to put a figure on the sum to be donated, he said that organisation will shortly begin setting up the relevant structures for the fund.

"What I would visualise is that from central level right down to the clubs we will be affording our membership the opportunity to contribute to this central fund and, once again, we will be urging our membership to contribute in a generous fashion, as I'm sure they will."

He confirmed that the admission prices to the replay in Thurles will be "significantly reduced". Exact figures will be determined at today's meeting.

The All-Ireland under-21 hurling semi-final between Kilkenny and Galway will be the curtain-raiser for the senior match. Throw-in is at 2 p.m. The All-Ireland B under-21 final between Kerry and Kildare has been rescheduled for 12.15 p.m. next Sunday at Croke Park. This game was to have taken place after last Saturday's match between Offaly and Clare but it was postponed following the lengthy pitch protest by Offaly supporters.