NL sponsors may look for compensation

Allianz, sponsors of the National Leagues, will seek compensation if the competitions are radically curtailed because of restrictions related to the foot-and-mouth crisis. But the company has not yet made any formal approach to Croke Park despite the current wave of postponements.

"Allianz haven't raised it yet," said a company spokesperson, "but obviously if they spend x thousand on a sponsorship and only get half the value of it, they'll feel entitled to a credit, particularly as it's the better part that's still to come.

"I think I saw Padraig Duffy (GAC chairman) saying that the schedules could withstand three blank weekends but no more. So the matter doesn't arise until that happens. If the GAA come up with some potted version of the competitions, Allianz will be happy to go with it. Despite what might be seen as domestic blips, this is a long-standing sponsorship and the basic commitment is still there and the company is happy to see them through this."

One idea for a potted version already emerged last month even before the foot-and-mouth restrictions. Allianz chief executive Donal Bollard suggested the finals be run off on a tournament basis over one weekend. With three weekends of league activity almost certain to go by the board, the idea might yet attract official interest.

Whereas the loss to Croke Park of any serious curtailment of the games programme is obvious enough, the ripple effect has also been in evidence. Irial MacMurchu is head of Nemeton, the Dungarvan-based sports production company which supplies TG4 with its live sports output.

"It's hard to gauge in the medium term but in the short term I've a big crew of people with nothing to do," he said. "We were due to broadcast three live events last week until it all went flat on its face." As well as the All-Ireland club semi-final between Sixmilebridge and GraigueBallycallan and the Sigerson Cup in Sligo, Nemeton were also due to cover live basketball. The spring months are, along with October and November, the company's busiest. "It's not something we can't deal with but a lot of freelances are taking a hit.

"At the moment we're assessing it continually. I think people will get fed up with everything being at a standstill, particularly as all the restrictions are economically driven and not health-related at all, more to do with being seen to do the right thing. Even on the ground, we're involved with the local club and they had an intermediate football match called off and yet there were several hundred at a nightclub in Dungarvan the same night."

Meanwhile the GAA authorities are to discuss with Department of Agriculture officials any possible easing of restrictions in the weeks ahead. With next weekend already gone and little chance of the St Patrick's Day club programme going ahead, it seems as if the next fortnight will also be wiped out. No firm decisions can be taken until the quarantine period following the south Armagh outbreak expires next week - assuming that no new cases are identified.

With the continuing dearth of fixtures, next Sunday TG4 will broadcast last September's All-Ireland hurling final between Kilkenny and Offaly at 2.20 p.m.. Ard San Aer, the Monday highlights programme at 10.40 p.m., takes a look at the centenary year All-Irelands in 1984. There will also be an interview with former Cork hurler and GAA president Con Murphy about his memories of the last foot-and-mouth outbreak in 1941.