Down leave options open

Down's county officers have clarified the reported ambiguity surrounding the county's decision to support the proposals of the Football Development Committee (FDC) at the recent county board meeting. It is agreed that the vote was in favour of changing the current league and championship structures, but the county's delegates to annual congress retain the option of supporting other proposals for change which may be advanced.

"The vote for the FDC report was carried by a majority," according to county chairman Eamonn O'Toole. "It was decided that we would be supportive, but that we would also listen to the arguments. While the majority was for change, not everyone was totally wedded to the current proposals."

"There was a strong feeling for change," says county secretary Donal McCormack, "and at the moment the FDC proposals are the only ones on the table, but the delegates are not tied tightly to the decision. There's not much point in going there (to Congress) if you're not going to listen to the arguments. I think the vote is going to be tight, compromise may be necessary."

There is the possibility of other proposals being brought forward at congress. Cork are thought likely to introduce a motion or amendment to water down the FDC plan. Ulster counties are also considering a proposal from Armagh and Antrim to reconstitute the province's championship on a round-robin basis. The view in Down is that the county will support the proposals for change which are seen to have the best chance of success.

The FDC presentation to the Down meeting was made by Tyrone football joint-manager Art McRory and Ireland International Rules manager Colm O'Rourke. After they had finished, the meeting discussed the county's attitude to the proposals.

At the heart of the reservations was concern about the availability of county players for their clubs. Under the terms of the FDC plan, club weekends would alternate with county dates. Delegates felt that having played for their counties, players would be under pressure not to risk themselves in club activity on interim weekends.

These concerns were answered by county chairman O'Toole, who guaranteed that county players would be available for their clubs on the relevant Sundays. This undertaking appeared to influence opinion and delegates voted in favour of the proposals.

"I believe that our support was for the total package of proposals," says O'Toole, "which includes club games being played during the initial stages of the proposed divisional fixtures. Our club games have to go ahead and I wouldn't see it as being feasible if all matches are regarded as championship games, necessitating the withdrawal of players by county management."

At present Down operate a system by which club matches go ahead regardless of county fixtures until the championship begins in the summer. Even then a number of matches are `starred' which means they can be played without county players. If the new championship format, with its 10 divisional matches, goes ahead, the club programme would be in chaos were county management to request release of players for every fixture.

Meanwhile, Clare's Brian Lohan is expected to miss Sunday's National Hurling League fixture with Limerick. The full back damaged his hamstring in the defeat by Galway and was unavailable for the last outing against Antrim. An announcement on the venue for the match is expected this morning. The venue was scheduled for Milltown Malbay as Cusack Park in Ennis is currently undergoing improvements. Milltown's capacity is limited, so Limerick proposed staging the match in the county's Gaelic Grounds and travelling to Ennis on the next two occasions the counties meet. Given that the match is expected to attract an attendance in the region of 15,000, Clare are believed likely to agree to the switch.

Kilkenny will be without All Star forward DJ Carey when they face champions Tipperary in the league on Sunday. Carey injured his right shoulder during the opening league match against All-Ireland champions Cork. "This is definitely a setback because I thought I was ready to go again," said Carey. "It looks like I will be out of action for another few weeks at least."

Carey has an appointment with Dublin specialist Dr Pat O'Neill on Wednesday and is hopeful that he will be given some idea as to when he might be able to resume playing.

Nigel Clancy is almost certain to miss Sligo's important National Football League game against Kildare at Markievicz Park on Sunday. The influential full back pulled a hamstring in Sligo's last league outing against Mayo. Noel Maguire is expected to be named as Clancy's replacement when the team is announced after training in Longford tonight.