Blow for UCD as council says result stands

News round-up: The controversy regarding "the point that never was" in last Sunday's Leinster club hurling championship final in Portlaoise between James Stephens and UCD seems to be over.

The Leinster Council last night released the following statement: "Following adoption of the referee's report Comhairle Laighean wish to confirm that the result of the game stands."

The head of GAA in UCD, Dave Billings, has not ruled out an appeal though it is hard to see how they can make a case as the disputed scores were not mentioned in referee Barry Kelly's report and there is no provision in the rules concerning a rematch.

UCD claim that two James Stephens points were wide and television footage from TG4 clearly shows that one of them struck the upright and went wide. UCD manager Babs Keating called for a rematch but James Stephens indicated that they were not willing to accommodate such a request.

Meanwhile, UCD have stated that they will contest next year's Dublin championship.

The fallout from last April's squabble over gear in Mayo women's football came to a head this week when six of the seven members of the women's county board resigned at their a.g.m.

The executive, under the chairmanship of PJ Loftus, were heavily criticised earlier this year by county delegates for their loyalty to Azzurri sports manufacturers in preference to the association's national deal with O'Neill's.

After wearing the Azzurri jerseys in the televised 2003 All-Ireland final victory over Dublin, Mayo were fined €22,000. The board refused to pay, a decision that led to central council withdrawing all Mayo teams from competitive football.

A solution was eventually brokered, which resulted in the board paying €2,200 to charity.

However, Loftus, president Paddy Sheridan, vice-chairman Michael Lavin, secretary Mary Gallagher, treasurer Margaret Byrne and financial officer Martha Guiry all stated at the time that they would resign at the end of the year. Registrar Martina Sheridan is the only board member to stay on.

"It was totally wrong what was done to us," said the outgoing chairman, Loftus. "Every county should be able to claim their own pound of flesh. The financial benefits from the O'Neill's deal went to the organisation (Cumann Peil na mBan), while all we got was a second set of gear. They got the cream while we got the crumbs."

The whole scenario leaves a substantial void at the highest echelons of the county board, as only the new chairman, Bernard Comiskey, president Packie McGinty and secretary Mary Malone were elected.

The other vital positions, such as fixtures secretary, previously held by Loftus, vice-chairman and financial officer, remain vacant. The development officer for women's football in Mayo, Jarlath Killeen, also stepped down.

But Comiskey said the board in full should be in place before the next meeting on December 14th.

However, after failing to contest the All-Ireland final this year, for the first time in five years, Mayo's main priority must be to find a successor to senior manager Finbar Egan. Seven candidates will be interviewed in the coming weeks, with a replacement expected by Christmas. "There is another All-Ireland in them," said Loftus. "So in that regard I wish Bernard Comiskey all the best."

Connacht have named an all-Galway line-up for Sunday's interprovincial hurling final against Munster in Pearse Stadium. James and Eugene Cloonan and Damien Hayes are all ruled out through injury.

CONNACHT (v Munster): L Donoghue; D Joyce, S Kavanagh, O Canning; F Healy, L Hodgins, F Moore; D Collins, D Tierney; A Kerins, M Kerins, K Broderick; D Donoghue, O Fahey (capt), N Healy.