Johnston saga rumbles on as CAC consider new request

GAELIC GAMES:THE SEÁN Johnston transfer saga was again under the spotlight last night, as the GAA's Central Appeals Committee (CAC) considered a request for clarification of its decision last week to uphold the player's appeal against the refusal to allow his move from Cavan to Kildare.

The Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) had turned down the transfer request on the grounds of the residence requirement not being met and also because of ethos-based reservations.

Johnston’s appeal succeeded because there had been no formal objection to the transfer from the Cavan County Committee or the Cavan Gaels club within the stipulated time period of 10 days of the application. Yet the rule book also doesn’t allow transfers unless residence in the new county has been established.

CCCC have been unsure since whether the committee can rehear the application, be effectively ordered to allow the transfer or be given no further direction, in which case they could refer the whole matter to the GAA’s independent arbitration panel, the Disputes Resolution Authority.

The CAC is expected to communicate its view to the CCCC today.

Meanwhile All-Ireland champions Dublin have named an experienced side to commence the defence of their national and provincial titles against Louth on Sunday. There are no newcomers in the team, which shows three changes from the line-up that started last September’s victory over Kerry.

There is one change in defence, centrefield and attack with Philip McMahon, Eamon Fennell and Kevin McManamon, all of whom came on a replacements in the All-Ireland final getting the nod instead of Cian O’Sullivan, who is injured, Denis Bastick and Barry Cahill.

Meanwhile, Longford, who open the Croke Park bill against Wexford, have named an unchanged team after their memorable first-round victory earlier this month, the county’s first against Laois in 44 years.

The Wexford hurlers are also in action this weekend, facing Offaly in Tullamore. Manager Liam Dunne has named four debutants: Willie Devereux, Stephen Murphy, Shaun Murphy and Jack Guiney.

DUBLIN (SFC v Louth); S Cluxton; P McMahon, R O’Carroll, M Fitzsimons; J McCarthy, G Brennan, K Nolan; E Fennell, MD Macauley; B Cullen (capt), A Brogan, P Flynn; D Connolly, K McManamon, B Brogan.

WEXFORD (SHC v Offaly): E Martin; W Devereux, K Rossiter, S Murphy; D Redmond, M O’Hanlon, C Kenny; S Murphy, D Lyng; G Sinnott, E Quigley, PJ Nolan; R Jacob, J Guiney, P Morris. Subs: M Fanning, E Moore, D Stamp, R Kehoe, B Kenny, H Kehoe, P Roche, J Tonks, D O’Keeffe, G Moore, S Banville.

LONGFORD (SFC v Wexford): D Sheridan; D Brady, B Gilleran, D Reilly; C Smith, M Quinn, S Mulligan; B McElvanney, J Keegan; D Barden, P Barden, N Mulligan; D McElligott, B Kavanagh, S McCormack.

LEITRIM (SFC v London): C McCrann; J Glancy, C Egan, P Maguire; C Clarke, F McMorrow, W McKeon; D Sweeney, D Lowe; P McGowan, E Mulligan, P Brennan; R Cox, J Glancy, A Croal.

LONDON: E Byrne; P Sherry, S McVeigh, D McGreevy; T Gaughan, S Mulligan, S Hannon; L Mulvey, M Gottsche; S Kelly, K O’Leary, M Mullins; P McGoldrick, E O’Neill, L Colfer.

LAOIS (SH v Dublin): E Reilly; C Coonan, D Maher, G Burke; C Dunne, M Whelan, M McEvoy; J Walsh, S Hanlon; S Maher, B Dunne, W Hyland; T Fitzgerald, N Foyle, D O’Mahoney.