Double standards for dual issue

GAELIC GAMES/Dual players:  Although Kilkenny manager Brian Cody is free of problems with dual players, both Dave Keane and Marty Morris take up the reins in counties where the issue has been a fraught one on recent years.

Dublin generally insist on players choosing between the codes and new manager Marty Morris acknowledges that situation.

"Players have made their choice. There are a couple that the football panel have been looking for, who have opted for the hurling side. A couple of guys have gone with the football, maybe because of the glamour of the football team. The footballers, in fairness, are All-Ireland contenders.

"We're happy with the players that are there. I have everybody I want on the hurling side. One player falls between the two, David O'Callaghan, who unfortunately picked up a bad injury on holiday so either team may not have him for the rest of the year.

"For the minute he's the one who Tommy and I are managing between us. The rest of the players are either footballers or hurlers at this stage."

For Limerick's Dave Keane, who is in his first year with the seniors, there is the realisation that the dual player issue effectively derailed the county last year. But in his time as a very successful under-21 manager he has experience of the dual issue.

"My attitude towards all players is that they deserve the respect to make up their mind on what to do. We have a couple of dual players and the way I look at it is as long as it doesn't overly interfere with their hurling then they can continue. It's a freedom of choice.

"If it does interfere we have to ask two questions. One, are they still good enough to be on the panel and if they're not I have to talk to them; and two, if they are good enough to be on the panel maybe they can combine the two of them. But I won't be telling any player that he has to do one or the other."

This year's National Hurling League will have an innovative structure. For the first time there will be an extended round-robin format at the end of the regulation matches.

At that stage the top three teams from Division One A and One B will play each other over three rounds.

Points totals will carry over from the five first-phase matches and at the end of the second phase the top two teams will play off for the league title. The bottom three teams will enter a similar round-robin arrangement with the bottom two sides playing each other and the loser being relegated.

The same arrangement will apply in Division Two A and Two B with the five-team sections splitting into top three and bottom two. The Division Two winners will be promoted and the losers of the bottom two play-off will be relegated.

Division Three will operate like Division Two except that the sections will split into top two and bottom three. The eventual winners gain promotion and a home-and-away series against London. The bottom three will play off for the Division Three Shield.