Gaelic Games Digest: A leading GAA figure in Mayo has called for an end to what he has labelled "downtown black pudding" debate about the county's senior football team and management.
After a trying close to 2006, when the county board and the Mickey Moran-led senior team management parted ways after just one season, county board secretary Seán Feeney has criticised what he described as uninformed discussion on the county team set-up.
Feeney, who was critical of Moran's regime during a season that saw Mayo battle their way to an All-Ireland final only to lose heavily to Kerry, made his comments in his report to the board's annual convention.
"The appointment of Mickey Moran and John Morrison did not meet with universal approval, and was debated ad nauseam on local radio," said Feeney.
"It was again debated ad nauseam when the partnership broke up and the officers of the board shook hands and decided to move on, as was in the agreement.
"We have too much of the downtown black pudding stuff and a little more enlightened debate would lift the tone rather than feeding fodder to the vulgar who are always willing to bite."
USA exodus curb call
Tyrone County Board chairman Dominic McCaughey has called on Croke Park to make it more difficult for top players to jet off to play football in the USA once their county go out of the All-Ireland championship.
McCaughey admitted his own county board unwittingly contributed to an exodus to America last summer following the reigning All-Ireland champions' early exit from the race for Sam.
Several Tyrone players made the transatlantic trip, some of them despite the fact their clubs were still involved in the domestic championship.
"Officials in Croke Park need to address the present system, which allows players to jet off across the Atlantic at the drop of a hat, with the tightening of the present sanctions required to protect the clubs here at home," McCaughey said.
Monaghan against Rules
The clubs of Monaghan were doubly determined to sever the International Rules link with Australia when the matter came before the county's convention in the Hill Grove Hotel Monaghan this week.
A motion from the Clontibret club that the series be discontinued was passed unanimously. Should this not come to pass, Monaghan will be looking to have another motion proposed by the Aughnamullen club and passed unanimously at the convention implemented, calling on the GAA to withdraw the Cormac McAnallen Cup from the series.
Dublin Colleges beaten
All-Ireland Colleges senior hurling champions Dublin Combined Colleges were beaten 1-13 to 2-9 by Good Counsel of New Ross in a thrilling provincial colleges A league semi-final at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, yesterday.
The Wexford side were never headed and led 1-7 to 0-4 at half-time. Centre back Michael Moloney was outstanding for the winners and contributed 0-4, all from long range and three from placed balls.
SCORERS: Good Counsel: M Moloney 0-4, three frees; T Fitzharris 0-3, two frees; E Kent 0-3, P O'Gorman 1-0, S Grace, P Kehoe (sideline cut), C Foran 0-1 each; Dublin Combined Colleges: D O'Connor 1-1, B O'Rourke 0-4, one free; D Whelan 0-2, A McIntyre 1-0. L Corbett (free), E McCabe 0-1 each.
