While the players and officials of the Cork County Board decide whether they have sufficient common ground to re-engage the services of Labour Relations chief executive, Kieran Mulvey, there is still a certain amount of time on their side.

At present Cork have secured one provincial postponement, of today's scheduled National Football League match against Meath in Navan, and must decide by early next week whether they will be in a position to field a hurling team for the opening league fixture against Kilkenny, scheduled for tomorrow week.

According to Croke Park sources, there will be no further postponements granted to the county while the current impasse continues.

If the hurlers are not in a position to fulfil next week's match the points will be awarded to Kilkenny. It will, however, require the county to default on two fixtures in each of the competitions before Cork's interest in the league is terminated.

This means that the footballers have a further week to settle the dispute before being removed from the competition. It is expected that, should this happen, the hurlers will follow suit and Cork will be absent from both national leagues for 2008.

- Seán Moran