'Uncertainty' over Offaly substitutes

Claims that Offaly used six substitutes during yesterday's Leinster football championship quarter-final at Croke Park were initially dismissed by the GAA, but a Leinster Council statement released late last night spoke of some "uncertainty".

"The Leinster Council of the GAA have stated that they are aware of uncertainty in relation to the position with regard to substitutions made in today's Bank of Ireland Leinster Senior Football Championship quarter-final between Kildare and Offaly. The council have said that they will consider the full circumstances of the matter in the coming days," said the statement.

The concern centred on the replacement of full forward Pascal Kellaghan by James Coughlan under the "blood substitution" rule in the 15th minute. At half-time Kellaghan reappeared instead of Trevor Phelan. Offaly made two further replacements in the second half to bring their total to six.

But Croke Park official Pierce Freaney - who acted yesterday as assistant to the sideline official - claimed the blood sub did not count as an official replacement even if he remained on the pitch for the rest of the game, as Coughlan did.

Freaney also said there was no time limit for a player leaving the pitch to receive treatment for a blood injury. Kellaghan was off the pitch for over 20 minutes, receiving two stitches for a head wound.

"The list of the substitutions is very simple, in our book anyway," said Freaney. "There were five substitutions made and one blood (sub). In the 15th minute James Coughlan came in for Pascal Kellaghan as a blood sub, but Kellaghan is entitled to come back on, which he did, and he doesn't need to replace the player who replaced him.

"The referee sends him off for treatment. He doesn't go off himself. The referee has to see blood. In fact that question you are asking me was a question on the referees' exam this year."

Offaly manager Gerry Cooney, a temporary replacement himself for the suspended Kevin Kilmurray, said: "We checked it with the table before we put on our last sub so there was never any question."

GAA sources did admit the rule was flawed as it didn't state when a blood substitution should end.

Munster Council chair Seán Fogarty criticised double standards on alcohol sponsorship in rugby and Gaelic games, writes Seán Moran.

Writing in the programme for yesterday's provincial hurling semi-final between Cork and Clare, Fogarty said he saluted Munster's European Cup rugby win, but went on: "However, the contrast between the deafening silence of both the media and public at large as regards the sponsorship of that competition by Heineken and the furore over the sponsorship of the hurling championship by Guinness is truly amazing.

"The Guinness sponsorship concentrates on the heroic deeds of strength and valour necessary to succeed at the highest level. The rugby sponsorship is far more aggressive, where even the match officials are walking billboards. The actual rugby trophy is called the Heineken Cup.

"Can you imagine the reaction if the GAA called the Munster championship cup the Guinness Cup? I for one would be checking my passport was in order before I would announce it. Similar differences in attitudes seem to pertain in the public mind in relation to admission prices and insurance cover between the GAA and other sports.

"I don't make these points in any critical manner; I just believe that we deserve a level playing field."