The Leinster club championship dates will not be altered by any further delay to the Dublin football championship, said provincial council chairman Liam O'Neill yesterday. Although two disputes between Dublin semi-finalists Kilmacud Crokes and Na Fianna have been resolved, a draw or the progress of Na Fianna may yet force a fixture pile-up.
The eventual Dublin champions must travel to play the winners of Sunday's meeting between Meath champions Wolfe Tones and St Joseph's of Louth on Friday, November 10th.
The Dublin final is scheduled for November 4th, but that is presuming tonight's semi-final between Kilmacud and UCD, and Monday evening's meeting of Na Fianna and St Vincent's both produce victorious outcomes.
"People assume the Leinster club championship fixtures can be put off for a week but it is never a good option as it interferes with the rights of others," said O'Neill. "Unless it can't be helped the club championship is set and we do frown upon any change."
The Na Fianna-St Vincent's fixture has already been put back from tomorrow to the Bank Holiday Monday because of the involvement of Kieran McGeeney in the Irish International Rules panel.
However, McGeeney will be expected to line out for his club just 48 hours after Ireland play Australia in Galway. The 2002 All-Ireland winning captain with Armagh, while of notoriously high fitness levels, must then recover in time for the second Test match in Croke Park six days later.
Crokes are seeking a third successive title but must overcome UCD without key forwards Mark Vaughan (shoulder) and Mark Davoran (ankle). UCD have quality players from all corners of the country including Laois pair Billy Sheehan and Craig Rogers.
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