Bodies negotiating on use of Croke Park

News round-up: The GAA, IRFU and FAI have confirmed that talks are taking place to seek a financial agreement for the use of Croke Park for international rugby and soccer matches in 2007.

After the Central Council decision on December 10th supported last April's historic vote by Congress to allow both sporting organisations to temporarily use GAA headquarters, rugby and soccer chief executives Philip Browne and John Delaney are at the negotiating table to try to thrash out a figure for renting the stadium.

The director general of the GAA, Liam Mulvihill, is leading the GAA's negotiating team.

The GAA yesterday issued a statement on behalf of the three bodies which "confirmed that following Central Council's decision on December 10th negotiations in regard to the use of Croke Park for internationals in 2007 are ongoing . . . there will be no further comment until discussions reach a conclusion".

Browne and Delaney have already held informal talks with several British stadium controllers, including the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, to obtain quotations for the cost of taking games abroad if an agreement with the GAA fails to materialise.

The decision on temporarily suspending Rule 42 was made on the presumption that planning permission will be granted to allow the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road to begin in just over a year.

The IRFU and FAI have held open days recently to allow the public to view the development plans for Lansdowne Road and for the design team to answer questions about the impact on the local community. However, several objections are expected from local residents that could delay work starting on the €365 million project to create a 50,000 all-seater stadium in Dublin 4. The Government has already committed €191 million of public funds to the project.

Meanwhile, DCU lodged an appeal with the central appeals committee on Friday regarding the 12-week suspensions of their inter-county scholarship stars Ross Munnelly, Shane Ryan and Diarmuid Kinsella. DCU are hoping for some leniency ahead of their next game against Meath in the O'Byrne Cup on January 5th in Navan.

Higher Education Council (HEC) members are due to meet senior Croke Park officials tomorrow to discuss the eligibility issue.

Pat Tobin, the most high-profile player discarded by Limerick hurling manager Joe McKenna, in his pre-Christmas cull, is puzzled by the decision.

The 24-year-old, winner of two All-Ireland under-21 medals, said he was shocked when pulled aside by McKenna at a training session and told he was surplus to requirements. His brother, Kevin, who completed a hat-trick of under-21 medals, was also disappointed.

"While I was told there might be a way back next year, the fact is that with the club season closed I have had to turn to local junior soccer to keep fit over the next few months.

"What really annoys me is I played in all Limerick's championship matches in 2005 and contributed some valuable scores. I was midfield against the Underdogs in a challenge a couple of weeks back and hit seven or eight points. Yet, I failed to make the final 31 players to go into training for the league."