THE WEXFORD County Board are expected to take their case against Cork's position in the National Hurling League to the Disputes Resolution Authority. The executive met last night to chart a new course after the Central Appeals Committee ruled Wexford's objection to Kilkenny and Waterford's walk-overs, received due to the Cork players strike, out of order.
The appeal was rejected on grounds that a Central Competitions Control Committee decision cannot be appealed and the notification was received too late. The CCCC confirmed Wexford's relegation to Division Two after Dublin finished ahead of them on points differential.
"I hope there will be an appeal," said Wexford manager John Meyler. "My job is hurling so I'll leave the administrative process up to the county board but we do need to look at the big picture here.
"Wexford, Offaly, Laois and Antrim need to remain in Division One. If we keep disrupting the status quo, we are taking the emphasis off the promotion of hurling.
"We've competed with every team in Division One this season except for Kilkenny - who have become our bogey team. Sure, just last Sunday we were five minutes away from a quarter-final. Now we are in Division Two next season.
"There is no conveyor belt of players, like the one in Kilkenny, but it is of paramount importance to maintain the development process in these counties. This cannot be done in Division Two."
The official GAA guidelines state Cork should have been disqualified from the National Hurling League after they forfeited two games during the players stand-off with the county board but this was overlooked once a settlement was reached.
However, it was seen as an advantage to Waterford and Kilkenny that they received two points without having to play Cork. Waterford play Cork this weekend in a play-off as rule 116 (c) of the guidelines stated teams cannot be separated by points difference due to the previously awarded walk-over.
Cork are boosted by the return of Ronan Curran, Jerry O'Connor, Joe Deane and Kieran Murphy (Sarsfields) for the match that will decide second and third place in Division One A.
The final placing of the Cork footballers in Division Football League will also be decided by Wexford's next move.
Meanwhile, 2003 All Star corner back Joe Higgins has returned to the Laois panel ahead of Saturday evening's visit of Kerry to Portlaoise.
The 29-year-old announced his retirement from intercounty football back in December but manager Liam Kearns persuaded him to reconsider. He will be on the bench this weekend.
"Joe's return is badly needed because we're lacking a bit of experience and it's great to have him back. We were working on him for a while but he missed it himself and decided to come back.
"He's a natural athlete and, hasn't lost anything in his absence and probably the break did him good.
"He's not in contention for the weekend. He will be on the panel but, in fairness to him and the rest of the lads, it would be asking a lot to throw him in against the All-Ireland champions."
The other high-profile and premature retiree in Laois, Tom Kelly, is not expected to change his mind any time soon.
