Call to follow Croke Park traditions

GAA: A leading GAA official has warned there can be no repeat of the infamous "Martin Johnson snub" if Croke Park is opened to other sports.

Séamus Whelan, chairman of the Westmeath County Board, has also raised a question about Ireland's Call and is adamant Amhrán na bhFiann must continue to be played before games in Croke Park.

When England played Ireland in Lansdowne Road this year, Johnson refused to move his England team to their allotted spot on the red carpet to meet President Mary McAleese. Ireland then took up their spot further down the field, forcing the President to walk off the red carpet to complete her job of meeting both teams.

It caused uproar, and Whelan has added to the debate in his address to the Westmeath GAA Convention.

"I would expect Central Council to have their conditions of leasing, including the obvious fact that Amhrán na bhFiann is our national anthem and that visiting teams be instructed to have appropriate respect for the head of our state, Uachtarán na hÉireann," he warned.

Whelan says he has an open mind on the issue of Croke Park being opened up, but he indicated he wouldn't have a problem with soccer and rugby going into the venue.

"Blanket bans don't serve the GAA well. Central Council and the Management Committee should have the authority to make such decisions," he said.

Meanwhile, Pat Heffernan has been recalled to the Limerick senior hurling squad after an absence of eight years.

New manager Pad Joe Whelehan is looking to the Blackrock player to add experience to his young squad.

Heffernan figured on the team that lost to Offaly in the 1994 All-Ireland hurling final, and last played for the county the following year.

However, there are no places in the 49-strong squad for Adare's Tim Houlihan, Limerick's regular goalkeeper last season, and the versatile Eoin Foley.

Veteran Stephen McDonagh has given a commitment to continue for one more season at least, as has Ciarán Carey.

Injuries ruled out Brian Geary, Brian Begley, Mark Keane, Conor Fitzgerald, Jack Foley and Clement Smith.

Whelehan had promised to "freshen" things up and having spread the net far and wide in search of new talent has come up with quite a few players not known to a wider audience.

Tyrone will not miss out on their Dr McKenna Cup opener against UUJ despite next week's squad holiday in Dubai.

Manager Mickey Harte has succeeded in securing a postponement of the All-Ireland football champions' first competitive match of 2004.

Tyrone were due to face the students on January 4th - the date for the first round - but that game will now be played under lights on Wednesday, January 21st.