In-depth Munster probe awaited

Expectations that the meeting of the Games Administration Committee of the Munster Council in Limerick tonight would consider all aspects of the controversial Munster hurling final replay would appear to have been misplaced. The sending off of the Waterford forward Michael White and that of the Clare defender Brian Lohan will be discussed by the committee and the referee's report will also be available to them. As far as could be ascertained last night, however, the officers of the Clare and Waterford county boards have not been asked to attend the meeting, while the Waterford manager, Ger McCarthy, has been excused because of a family arrangement.

It was thought that the meeting would conduct an in-depth investigation into the events surrounding the start of the match and a subsequent fracas which resulted in White and Lohan being sent off. Last week Waterford officially asked for an investigation into those matters, but it now seems that the match in its entirety will not be discussed until some time in the future.

Colin Byrne from Wicklow will defend his Poc Fada na hEireann title in the Cooley Mountains on the borders of Louth and Armagh on Bank Holiday Monday, with 11 challengers for his crown.

Among the well-known hurlers taking part will be Damien Fitzhenry, the Wexford goalkeeper, David Fitzgerald, his Clare counterpart, and Seamus McMullan from Antrim.

The winner will be the one who covers the designated course in the fewest strokes. All competitors will get a memento of the occasion, with the winner receiving the Corn Cuailigne. Gold, silver and bronze medals will also be presented and other awards will go to winners in the team events.

Previous winners of the competition include Ger Cunningham, the Cork goalkeeper, who won it seven times in succession from 1984 to 1990, the late Ollie Walsh from Kilkenny, Oliver Goff from Kilkenny, Pat Hartigan from Limerick, Tommy Quaid from Limerick and Michael Shaughnessy.