Garda College thrown out

SIGERSON CUP:Comhairle Árdoideachais of the GAA has thrown the Garda College in Templemore out of this season's Sigerson Cup.

The governing body for third-level colleges handed down its decision yesterday after hearing last week an objection from IT Carlow in respect of their defeat by the Garda College in the last round of the competition.

The decision was based on the adjudicated ineligibility of the college's right wing back and Westmeath panellist Graham Dillon, who plays club football for Trinity Gaels in Dublin.

Dillon fell foul of a rule that states students in Templemore can only play for the college during the first two full years of college registration, which runs from the November of each season. The player in question was registered in November 2005 and although he didn't play in the 2006 Sigerson, he had only one further registered year in which to represent the college.

This he did in 2007 and IT Carlow's objection was based on the fact of his appearance in their 0-12 to 1-11 defeat by the Garda College two weeks ago during a season in which Carlow - who host next month's Sigerson finals weekend - successfully argued that Dillon was ineligible.

"There are specific rules governing policing and military studies," according to CAO chair Jack Devenney. "These take into account academic structures into which students can come and go during any given year - a situation we feel is best dealt with by allowing them two full seasons of eligibility from the date when they are first registered."

On the grounds of their successful objection IT Carlow were due to play Cork IT in this afternoon's quarter-finals but the match has been postponed given the circumstances and pending a decision from the Garda College on whether to appeal to Croke Park's Central Appeals Committee. The deadline for such a lodgement is Friday.

Connacht council secretary John Prenty has revived the debate surrounding the interprovincial football and hurling series. In his report to tomorrow evening's Connacht convention, Prenty says: "Is there a best time of the year to play? Does anybody care? We are told that the players are anxious to have the series retained, but there is no great evidence to show that if they want it retained, they want to play in it."