Munster seeding system heavily criticised

Limerick football manager Mickey Ned O'Sullivan has launched a blistering attack on the Munster Council for reverting to a seeding system for the 2008 provincial championship. Next season, heavyweights Cork and Kerry will be kept apart until the final and given a straight passage to the semi-finals.

O'Sullivan has labelled Munster Council officials as "bureaucrats" and says it is "one of the worst decisions in the history of football".

O'Sullivan, a former Kerry manager, said: "I was involved with Kerry in 1991 when the seeding was done away with. Obviously, we didn't approve it, but it was in the interests of football in the four weaker counties and we accepted it at the time. But to go back now defies all logic and the Munster Council, supposedly there to promote the game, has made a strictly financial decision.

"I take total exception to this because they are only paying lip service to the weaker counties when they talk about developing the game and then they go and destroy the footballing hopes of those counties."

O'Sullivan, who is preparing for a third season in charge of Limerick, insisted: "Kerry and Cork didn't need it, but it is down to finance.

"If Kerry played Cork other than in a Munster final, you would probably get 30,000 at the game, but in a Munster final you're talking 42,000.

"The Munster Council has destroyed any hope of a Tipperary man, a Clare man, a Limerick man or a Waterford man playing in a Munster final and that's what keeps lads going.

"In Limerick, we thought we might get a good draw under the law of averages and maybe get to a final, but these people are bureaucrats who have no interest in the development of the game. These guys are accountants."

Dublin selector Brian Talty has been ruled out of the race for Carlow senior football manager.

Carlow county chairman Pat Deering said: "Brian has committed himself to Dublin. Apart from that we have not spoken to Brian, and he has not been mentioned in relation to the post."

The camogie All-Ireland senior B championship final replay between Cork and Limerick will be played on Sunday (12.15) at Páirc Uí Rinn.