UCD still in Dublin draw despite clash with exams

UCD are included in the Dublin hurling championship draw despite insisting they cannot play their opening two fixtures because of a clash with student examinations.

The Dublin GAC refused a request to bring forward UCD's round-robin matches against Lucan Sarsfields on May 7th and Faughs on May 28th. The overlap with exams has been averted in previous years but Dublin GAC secretary Patricia Monahan said they were unable to accommodate the defending county champions in 2006.

"They asked for it to be played earlier but the GAC were not in a position to do this due to a clash with other fixtures at the end of April. It wasn't an option because all our fixtures have gone out to clubs in advance.

"They wrote to the GAC and met with the committee on Tuesday. Unless they bring it up with the county committee the GAC have taken it they are not entering this year."

This is the latest development in an ongoing dispute over UCD's participation in the Dublin championship. Last November, captains from seven leading Dublin hurling clubs threatened strike action "should any third-level institutions be re-invited" into the Dublin championship.

The captains' statement added: "we strongly believe that third-level participation in the Dublin senior hurling championship is of absolutely no benefit to Dublin hurling."

A Dublin County Board motion to congress this year to restrict third-level institutions to playing only undergraduates in county championships was heavily defeated. However, a motion from the Eglish club in Tyrone to abolish the year's grace for a graduate was passed.

The next county committee meeting is May 8th but the UCD club refused to make any comment yesterday when queried whether they intend to contest the current schedule or relent and take part in the championship.

Meanwhile, Waterford hurlers Paul Flynn and Eoin Kelly will discover what charges they face for recent red cards when the central disciplinary committee, under new chairman John O'Reilly, meets next Tuesday evening.

Both players were sent off in recent National Hurling League matches but it is not yet known if the offences were for striking with the hurley. If so, both could receive 12-week suspensions which would rule them out of the Munster championship.

Waterford manager Justin McCarthy is already planning without injured duo Ken McGrath and John Mullane.

Meanwhile, the Dublin County Board's request to move their opening Leinster football championship game against Longford on June 4th from Pearse Park in Longford was rejected last night by the Leinster Council.

Healy Park, Omagh will host its first floodlit game next week. The stadium's new lighting will illuminate the season's opening action in the Tyrone club championship.

The lights were officially switched on earlier this week, but at that stage, officials envisaged that it could be the autumn before they saw their first competitive action.

However, a rescheduling of the preliminary round of the Tyrone senior football championship means the Omagh venue will stage the first two games of the series next Friday evening.

Donaghmore will take on Loughmacrory and Killyclogher will face Pomeroy on a double bill. The occasion, and in particular its novelty value, should attract a big crowd.

The ties will not, however, be the first Tyrone football championship games to be played under lights. Last season, Carrickmore staged three floodlit games, including a semi-final replay between Errigal Ciarán and Omagh.

All eight senior football championship preliminary-round games will be played next weekend, with a double-header on Saturday and two more on Sunday. Defending champions Carrickmore will not be in action, as they are due to enter this year's series at the first-round stage.