THE LONG-RUNNING request from former Cavan player Seán Johnston to transfer to the St Kevin’s club in Kildare will be answered this morning. The GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee is expected to deliver its decision on the matter, which has been running for a number of months.
Previous applications for the transfer had been turned down, most recently on the grounds that Johnston, whose move is opposed by both his club Cavan Gaels and the county, had not established a change of residence to Straffan in Kildare.
The transfer will not necessarily be approved if the change of residence has been demonstrated to the committee’s satisfaction, as ethos-based objections to what would be effectively a move of convenience may still play a role in the determination.
The matter has become urgent since the new rule adopted at last month’s congress, which requires any player looking to transfer to another county to have first played in that county’s championship. St Kevin’s are due to play this weekend against Leixlip and Johnston needs to take part in the match if he is to be available to Kieran McGeeney’s Kildare team for the championship.
Despite rumours yesterday that the CCCC had deferred the matter until next week by which stage St Kevin’s would have played, Croke Park sources confirmed last night that a final decision would be delivered today. It would still be open to Johnston to appeal an adverse finding and, if he wishes, take it to the GAA’s independent arbitration body, the DRA.
Meanwhile, Longford’s Michael Quinn will make a first senior Leinster appearance in the quarter-final against Laois. Quinn, who had been on the books of AFL club Essendon in Melbourne for the previous three years, played a significant role in the county’s promotion to Division Two and victory in the Division Three final against Wexford.
Westmeath, who face Louth on Sunday, won’t be featuring Des Dolan, who is taking an extended rest after Garrycastle’s run to the All-Ireland final but three of his club-mates, Doran Harte, James Dolan and John Gaffey, are named. The county’s hurlers will field six debutants in tomorrow’s Leinster preliminary round against Antrim: Goalkeeper Shane McGovern, left corner back Paul Fennell, Aonghus Clarke at centrefield, centre forward Francis Boyle better known as an inter-county footballer, left wing forward Robbie Greville and right corner forward Niall O’Brien were all named by manager Brian Hanley.
Eoin Barry makes his debut for the Limerick footballers in Sunday’s Munster quarter-final against Waterford.
Elsewhere former Dublin football All Star and dual player Shane Ryan (33) has announced his retirement from inter-county hurling due to a persistent back injury.
LONGFORD (SFC v Louth): D Sheridan; D Brady, B Gilleran, D Reilly; CP Smith, M Quinn, S Mulligan; B McElvaney, J Keegan; D Barden, P Barden (capt.), N Mulligan; D McElligott, B Kavanagh, S McCormack. Subs: P Columb, P Foy, N Farrell, F Battrim, M Brady, P Kelly, P McCormack, F McGee, J McGivney, B McKeon, K Diffley.
WESTMEATH (SFC v Louth): G Connaughton; M Curley, J Gaffey, K Maguire; D Harte, M Ennis, D McDermott; J Heslin, P Bannon; K Maguire, G Egan, J Dolan; Denis Glennon, David Glennon, P Sharry. Subs: D Quinn, A Finnan, B Moran, K Sheridan, D Gavin, R Foley, C McCormack, A Giles, M McCallon, P Sheridan, R English, A Stone, T Warburton, J Egan, D Mullen.
CARLOW (SHC v Laois): F Foley; A Corcoran, E Nolan, E Coady; J Corcoran, S Kavanagh, R Coady; J Kavanagh, A Gaule; E Byrne, J Kane, C Doyle; M Kavanagh, M Brennan, D Roberts. Subs: B Treacy, K McCabe, HP O’Byrne, R Smithers, M Clowry, A McDonald, A Kenny, C Wall, JM Nolan, D Shaw, P Coady.
LAOIS: E Reilly; C Coonan, D Maher, G Burke; C Dunne, M Whelan, M McEvoy; J Walsh, S Hanlon; S Maher, B Dunne, W Hyland; T Fitzgerald, N Foyle, D O’Mahoney.
WESTMEATH (SHC v Antrim): S McGovern; C Jordan, A Price, P Fennell; P Dowdall, A McGrath, P Greville; A Clarke, J Clarke; B Murtagh, F Boyle, R Greville; N O’Brien, J Shaw, E Price. Subs: P Maloney, P Gilsenan, D Fennell, E Clarke, C Boyle, A Dermody, K Orme, S Savage, R Gallagher, K Murphy, A Craig, A Price.
LIMERICK (SFC v Waterford): B Scanlon; J McCarthy, P Brown, L ODwyer; S Lavin, J Riordan, P Ranahan; T Lee, P Kinnerk; E Barry, E OConnor, S Buckley; G Collins, S OCarroll, I Ryan.
