CAC to hear Kildare case

The GAA's Central Appeals Committee (CAC) will convene tomorrow to hear Kildare's objection to the Leinster Council's decision not to punish Offaly for allegedly fielding a sixth substitute in the Leinster football championship quarter-final on May 28th.

The Leinster Council were disappointed with the Central Management decision not to clarify rule 2.4 and rule 1.5(b) of the official guide. But they still felt no rule was broken by the Offaly management and ruled accordingly.

"We couldn't find any rule that Offaly broke so the result of the game must stand," said Leinster secretary Michael Delaney.

The CAC is now under the chairmanship of the former Cork County Board chairman Jim Forbes.

With Kildare or Offaly expected to take this issue on to the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA), the June 18th Leinster semi-final between Wexford and Offaly may be deferred a week and played in Croke Park as part of a double header with Dublin and Laois.

Meanwhile, GAA president Nickey Brennan informed Saturday's Central Council meeting a director of games and director of finance would be appointed shortly.

Brennan also revealed he told Minister for Sport John O'Donoghue he was unhappy that contrary to the original plans the newly-developed Lansdowne Road would be unable to host Gaelic games.

O'Donoghue told Brennan planning permission for Lansdowne Road was expected next month and four pitches had been committed to the GAA in Abbotstown.

Also at the meeting, DRA secretary Liam Keane defended the body by explaining of the 49 appeals in the past year only six succeeded, 17 failed, 12 were settled, six were withdrawn and eight are ongoing.

The hurling championship and national league are set to be reviewed ahead of next October's special congress.

The Christy Ring Cup and Tommy Murphy Cup winners will play on October 21st in Boston, where the interprovincial football final may also be held the same weekend.