St Vincent's set for row with GAA over sponsor

ST VINCENT'S, one of the country's largest GAA clubs, appear set for a head on clash with the association's hierarchy after reaching agreement with an alcoholic drinks company for a major sponsorship.

The Dublin club has agreed a major sponsorship deal with Beamish & Crawford which is due to be officially announced this afternoon, but which could land St Vincent's in hot water with the GAA.

Guinness sponsor the All Ireland Hurling Championship, but this deal was specially agreed after last year's annual congress and related solely to the country's major hurling competition. As things stand clubs are not allowed accept sponsorship from a drinks company.

An application was made by the Dublin County Board to the last Central Council meeting requesting the Guinness sponsorship to be extended to incorporate clubs. However, a decision was deferred and delegates were asked to consider the application. The matter is due to be discussed at length at this weekend's Central Council.

But St Vincent's are set to announce their tie up with the Cork based brewery this afternoon, before the Central Council deals with the matter. The Dublin club will become the first club, to openly take on the GAA's anti drinks sponsorship.

Meanwhile, the GAA and Church & General, sponsors of the National Leagues for the past three years, are set to review their association over the next few weeks.

Church & General's sponsorship of the GAA's secondary competition effectively ended last Sunday when Galway captured the National Hurling League title for the first time since 1989.

It is believed the assurance company will hold a meeting later this week to review its sponsorship of the Leagues, although a decision on whether or not to continue its involvement is not expected to be made for some weeks yet.

Danny Lynch, the GAA's PRO, rejected suggestions that the company had already made a decision to end its sponsorship: "Both parties will review the situation over the coming weeks. No decision has yet been made on the matter," he said.

Meanwhile, Kildare defender Anthony Rainbow is, due to end his term of peace keeping duties in the Lebanon this week and will return to boost the county's bid to claim their first Leinster title in 40 years.

Rainbow is scheduled to return to Ireland later this week - and is expected to line out for the team in two planned challenge games against Kerry, at Celbridge on Friday week (May 24th) and a return game down in Kerry the following Sunday. The Lilywhites start their championship challenge against Laois on June 16th.

Meanwhile, Dublin's Jack Sheedy is expected to be available to assist the All Ireland champions in the opening match in defence of their crown against Westmeath in Navan on June 9th. Sheedy was sent off - allegedly for "retaliation" in a club match with Lucan Sarsfields on Sunday - but is expected to receive no more than a month's suspension, which would make him available to the Dublin selectors.

. In yesterday's Guinness All Ireland hurling supplement, the name of the manager of the Wexford team was incorrectly given. It should have read Liam Griffin and not Liam Fardy who managed the county's footballers up until last year.