Rules series faces crucial meeting

International Rules series:The GAA will this weekend hold a potentially decisive meeting with their Australian counterparts, the AFL, in the latest attempt to resume the International Rules series.

Unless some agreement is reached it's unlikely the series will resume this year, as is still hoped.

Dubai was last month chosen as the convenient venue for the meeting, as AFL officials will be present there this weekend for Saturday's NAB Cup clash between Collingwood and Adelaide, which will be the first Australian Rules game to be played in the United Arab Emirates - the NAB Cup being the AFL's pre-season tournament.

A GAA delegation, including president Nickey Brennan and head of games Pat Daly, will make the trip later in the week, although the exact agenda of the meeting is being kept quiet.

"We won't be commenting on the meeting beyond the fact that it is taking place," said the GAA spokesman Feargal McGill. "The last thing we want to do is put any more pressure on those involved."

Also making the trip in a key negotiating capacity is former Derry and Ireland captain and 2006 selector Anthony Tohill, who is expected to present several proposals regarding discipline. It was the collapse of such discipline that marred the last series in Ireland in November of 2006, and resulted in the temporary abandonment of the series.

Tohill was previously involved in the drawing up of the series rules, and it is understood his new proposals will include the appointment of neutral referees, and a new match official who will monitor disciplinary transgressions in the same way as a rugby television match official.

The GAA and AFL have already had some advance communication by phone and in writing, and there is still hope the series can be resumed in Australia this October. Some progress this weekend, however, appears vital if that is to happen.

Meanwhile, Crossmaglen's dominance on the club scene continues, and as the Armagh side prepare to capture their fifth All-Ireland club football title within 10 years, their top scorer Oisín McConville was yesterday awarded with his has fourth AIB provincial player award. It was his second consecutive award and fourth overall since the inception of the awards in 1996, when the star forward was honoured for the first time.

The winners were selected by GAA media around the country. McConville is joined in the football honours list by previous winner James Masters of Nemo Rangers, who also received an award in 2006. Equally prominent performances earned due recognition for Ronan McGarrity of Ballina Stephenites and St Vincent's Ger Brennan.

The 2006 recipient, Damien Hayes (Portumna), is among the hurlers honoured this year. Also recognised are first-time winners Paddy Richmond of Dunloy, David Kennedy of Loughmore-Castleiney and Birr's Niall Claffey. All eight players will be presented with their awards on Monday, March 3rd.