LAST NIGHT the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) convened in Dundalk to hear representatives from Antrim, Wexford, Offaly and Clare challenging the staging of today’s relegation play-off semi-finals.

A three-man tribunal consisting of former GAA president Peter Quinn, solicitor Brian Rennick and barrister Patrick Purcell were to decide whether to uphold the fixtures, in accordance with the new championship structures ratified at Congress, or cancel them, thus, ensuring no team is relegated to the Christy Ring Cup.

A decision on whether today’s matches were due to take place was still being discussed when the newspaper went to print last night but the substantive issue will not be heard until a later date.

Earlier yesterday, Offaly manager Joe Dooley provided his perspective of the situation: “It is unsatisfactory that even as I talk 24 hours before throw-in is scheduled I don’t know if we have a game to play. With so few counties competing in hurling they should be looking to facilitate those that want to compete at the highest level like Carlow and Westmeath, not relegating teams from the Liam MacCarthy Cup. Just a little bit of common sense is required here.”

Meanwhile, the point of no return has come and gone in the hurling championship. With the aristocracy in Leinster and Munster waiting in the All-Ireland semi-finals, four aspiring underlings draw blades in Semple Stadium, Thurles tomorrow afternoon.

Kilkenny and Tipperary will look down upon events from a safe distance, mainly to ensure they avoid any flying splinters.

For the long serving veterans littered throughout the Limerick and Waterford camps it could spell the end of golden generations that never quite sparkled. Their main rival being Father Time and he can only be stalled, never overcome.

It is less dramatic for the coming forces of Dublin and Galway but the fear of defeat weighs heavily on their shoulders.

For a change, Dublin are expected to win a big match; funny then that the bookmakers refused to give them more than a one-point handicap against Limerick and the everlasting Justin McCarthy. Dublin seek safe passage into the semi-finals for the first time in 61 years.

Galway are the form hurling team of late but to truly believe their excellence requires a firm dismissal of Davy Fitzgerald’s Waterford. All-Ireland finalists the past two seasons, Limerick certainly believe they can beat Dublin and Waterford are striving to ensure their epic tragedy doesnt end on a sour note.

That Galway and Dublin resisted providing the long suffering media with teams until late last night may tell its own tale. For Dublin it confirmed the returned of Ross O’Carroll and an interesting subplot as Limerick native Maurice O’Brien starts at wing back for Dublin in place of the injured Oisín Gough.

For the record, the home of hurling has already shifted 23,000 tickets for tomorrow’s All-Ireland quarter-final double header.

Waterford attempt to upset the odds by turning over an inform Galway side in the main event at 4pm.

After tomorrow’s hurling, The Sunday Game will hold the All-Ireland quarter-final football draw (6.35pm) when it will be revealed who faces the provincial winners over the August Bank Holiday weekend. All this depending on the U2 stage being dismantled and pitch relayed within the promised timescale.

“Absolutely, totally confident,” said GAA president Christy Cooney, just yards from the stage, when asked how confident he was about the logistical nightmare.

Cooney also confirmed that Dublin footballers will have a stand alone last eight tie at headquarters. “The Dubs (could) fill this on their own but understandably they’ll have to share tickets with another county. So be it. We would expect that will happen.”

Understandably, they need an opponent to fill it in the first place.

One team they cannot face again is Kildare whose preparations have been mildly hindered this week by Armagh announcing the departure of manager Peter McDonnell, leading to suggestions that Kieran McGeeney and his assistant Paul Grimley would be the natural replacements.

“No,” said McGeeney on Kildare local radio when asked if he has considered a switch back home. “I thought Peter McDonnell was a great manager. He managed me at club level and I think it’s a mistake to let him go. But I’ve committed myself to three years (in Kildare) and there will be no change in that unless the county board here doesn’t want me.”

The football draw cannot be finalised as Munster runners-up Limerick await the winners of today’s rescheduled Roscommon versus Meath round three tie so one quarter-final may take place on the second weekend in August.