Clare club Wolfe Tones have "reluctantly agreed" to consent to the county board's decision that their quarter-final against Ogonnelloe should be replayed.
Players and members debated into the early hours of yesterday morning before deciding to fulfil the re-fixture. In a statement released yesterday by club chairman Pat O'Connell, however, their belief that they had triumphed fairly in the original game was highlighted.
"We feel we won the match fairly on the field and that the amount of time played was justified," Mr O'Connell stated on Clare FM yesterday.
Wolfe Tones turned the game on a goal deep in injury time. The Ogonnelloe club were aggrieved at the amount of injury time played, which some observers estimated to be nine minutes and 44 seconds.
The Clare County Board reviewed their case and, in a decision which mirrors the All-Ireland semi-final replay between Clare and Offaly, declared a rematch.
"We are distancing ourselves from any precedent set by this decision," said Mr O'Connell, adding that in opting to favour a replay, the Clare County Board had refused "to adopt the referee's report".
Ogonnelloe vice-chairman Donal Molloy said he was "delighted" with Wolfe Tones' decision.
"It's extremely sporting and, I hope, it's no more than we would have done had the roles been reversed," he offered.
Mr O'Connell said Wolfe Tones trained last night and want to put the debacle behind them. The Galway county championship football quarter-final between Salthill and the reinstated Dunmore McHales has been fixed for 2.00 p.m. on bank holiday Monday in Tuam stadium.
Dunmore's participation in the competition looked doubtful after the county board expelled them for refusing to fulfil the fixture last Saturday. They insisted that their inter-county star Michael Donnellan ought to be allowed to rest before playing for Ireland against Australia in the International Rules clash the following day.
In an earlier round of the championship, Tuam Stars were removed after citing insufficient notice and various commitments for failing to field a team. They were also subsequently given a reprieve and now face a semi-final clash with reigning All-Ireland champions Corofin. That match will follow the Dunmore-Salthill game, at 3.30 p.m. Carraroe await the winners of the Dunmore-Salthill clash and it is hoped that that game can be played on Saturday week. The remaining fixtures offer something of a headache.
"We were due to have a representative for the Connacht Championship by November 8th but at this stage, we are hoping to get a bit of a time extension and fix the county final for that date," said John Power of the county board. "If our application is refused, we will simply have to nominate a team to go forward."
Galway county hurling secretary Phelim Murphy said he was mystified at reports that former Limerick manager Tom Ryan is set to succeed Cyril Farrell as Galway manager. PaJoe Whelan has also been linked with the post.
"I haven't spoken with Tom since Galway played a league game down in Limerick," Murphy said. "I don't know where that story came from."
He confirmed, however, that it is hoped to have a manager installed by the weekend. "Ideally, it would be good to have someone from within the county, if we could get the right man," he said.
Dublin football manager Tom Carr is taking a new-look side to face Mayo in the Sean Flanagan Cup. Twelve squad members will play competitively for the first time.
Newcomers include minor player Manus Bhreathnach and Irish international basketball star, Karl Donnelly. Absent will be regulars such as Brian Stynes, Dermot Harrington and Paul Croft, through injury and work commitments.
All the Kilmacud Crokes representatives are unavailable due to club duty. Carr revealed that he is looking forward to the resumption of competitive football but has no grand League designs.
"Naturally, we want to win every game but essentially we will approach each game individually and see how we go from there."
University of Limerick, the county champions, face St Saviour's of Waterford in the Munster club quarter-final this Sunday. That match takes place in Kilmallock at 2.30pm.
DUBLIN (SF, Sean Flanagan Cup v Mayo): D Byrne, P Christie, M Bhreathnach, K Galvin, T Lynch, I Robertson, C Moran, E Sheehy, C Whelan, S Cowap, D Darcy, E Crennan, J Gavin, D Farrell, B Irwin, S Connell, D Cahill, M Casey, I Clarke, D Conlon, K Lawlor, B O'Brien, S Ryan, K Nolan, K Donnelly.
KERRY (Oireachtas SH V Cork): S O hEal aith; I de Bric, S Mac an tSaoir; P O hArrachtain, A Sulleabhain, M MacCartaigh; L O Liathain; M O Dubhlaioch, P O Croinin; M O Slallara, G O Frithil, C Breathnach; S O Tuama, A Mainseal, P O Croinin.
