Cork hurlers' briefing set for Monday

THE 2008 Cork hurlers’ media briefing will take place at 7.30pm on Monday. No venue has been announced but the players will respond to statements from manager Gerald McCarthy and the county board during the week in respect of the panel’s dispute with officials over the reappointment of McCarthy for another two years.

The manager was critical of the senior players and alleged pressure was being put on younger hurlers not to play for the county. As things stand the county will go into next month’s National Hurling League without the involvement of its best players.

Meanwhile Dr Pat Duggan, chair of the GAA’s Medical, Scientific Welfare Committee, told RTÉ radio yesterday that team doctors should be paid because of the extra responsibility involved in administering anti-doping regulations. He was commenting on the clearing of Kerry footballer Aidan O’Mahony on charges of taking the asthma medication Salbutamol as a performance-enhancing substance.

Croke Park sources had no comment to make on the remarks but endorsed his suggestion there should be improved liaison between the GAA and the Irish Sports Council in respect of the therapeutic use exemption (TUE) forms, which register players for medication like Salbutamol.

O’Mahony was found to have breached the rules in relation to TUEs by stating his average rather than maximum dosage. As a result he was issued with a reprimand by the GAA’s Anti-Doping hearings committee.

Hopes of staging a football and hurling double header between Dublin and Galway next month have been dashed. The games will go ahead on the same day at opposite ends of the country. The National League fixtures threw up a double clash between the counties on February 15th, with the hurling tie scheduled for Parnell Park and the football encounter at Pearse Stadium in Galway.

The counties looked at the prospect at staging the two games at the same venue but Galway County Board chairman Gerry Larkin said it was not possible.

“It might have been possible if it was later in the schedule but it was felt it was unlikely that a pitch would be able to take the two games.”

The clash between the hurlers – which will see new managers John McIntyre and Anthony Daly go head to head – is fixed for 2.30pm at Parnell Park. At the same time Pat Gilroy is due for his first away game in charge of Dublin when they play Galway in Salthill.

Michael Duignan earned Leitrim their first win, 1-9 to 1-8, in the Connacht Football League with a last-gasp point from a 45 against Sligo at Tourlestrane last night.

SCORERS: Leitrim – C Clarke 1-1, R Gallagher 0-2, J Glancy 0-3, two frees, R Cox 0-2, one free, M Duignan 0-1, 45. Sligo – B O’Reilly 1-1, K Raymond 0-2, A Marren 0-2, one free, D McTernan 0-1, E O’Hara 0-1, J Scanlon 0-1.