The restrictions on Ulster's intercounty participation because of the latest foot-and-mouth outbreaks continues to cause concern for a number of counties. While the Ulster Council will meet this evening to refix dates for the early rounds of the provincial senior football championship, a meeting of the GAA's management committee has been set for tomorrow night when Tyrone's request for a postponement of the under-21 football championship will be considered.
In the meantime, Antrim have cancelled all county team training for this week. The senior football team haven't had a competitive inter-county match since last February (when they played London) and manager Brian White continues to have his preparations put under restriction.
"We will meet again early next week to discuss the matter further but at the moment the foot-and-mouth precautions are the main concern," said Antrim county secretary Eamon McMahon yesterday. "It is a long time to go without a game. The footballers showed up last Sunday to play Westmeath only to have the game called off at the last minute."
Assuming Antrim's championship opener against Derry is moved from May 13th to May 20th, it leaves White with just four weeks preparation.
As current All-Ireland champions, Tyrone's appeal to postpone the under-21 championship has been gathering some sympathy. Fermanagh were due to play them in the Ulster final and even though it appears certain that they will now play the winners of Munster in the semi-final, they have already indicated that they will still play the Ulster final at a later date, preferring to win it on the field rather than in the committee room.
Yet there are limited ways in which Tyrone can be accommodated. Either the remainder of the competition is postponed beyond the next 30 days or else players inside the exclusion zone are not fielded.
The problem with the Ulster senior football colleges title has at least been settled. The replay between St Michael's, Enniskillen and Omagh CBS was due to played last Saturday but with the All-Ireland semi-final against Connacht champions St Jarlath's fixed for April 29th, time has run out for the Tyrone school. Instead, the Fermanagh school has been nominated on the basis that Omagh wouldn't be able to travel until the 30-day ban is up.
Meanwhile, details of £900,000 in grants for stadium development around the country were released yesterday. A total of 19 club, county and provincial grounds will benefit from the Central Council grant, and a further £400,000 in grants have been approved from Central funds for club grounds. Another £21,000 has yet to be allocated.
Grounds to benefit: Dr Hyde Park (Roscommon) £25,000; McHale Park (Castlebar) £18,000; Pairc Sheain Mhic Diarmada (Carrick-on-Shannon) £8,000; Pearse Stadium (Galway) £50,000; Wexford Park (Wexford) £25,000; O'Moore Park (Portaoise) £50,000; Aughrim (Wicklow) £25,000; Dr Cullen Park (Carlow) £15,000; Pearse Park (Longford) £20,000; Gaelic Grounds (Limerick) £50,000; Cusack Park (Ennis) £8,000; Fraher Park (Dungarvan) £10,000; Celtic Park (Derry) £10,000; Breffni Park (Cavan) £30,000; Pairc Esler (Newry) £35,000; Brewster Park (Enniskillen) £50,000; Casement Park (Antrim) £15,000; Pairc na hEireann (Warwickshire) £21,000; Fitzgerald Stadium (Killarney) £25,000.
Croke Park also announced yesterday the names of four new players for the GAA Hall of Fame. Footballers Padraig Carney (Mayo) and Jack O'Shea (Kerry) and hurlers Nicky Rackard (Wexford) and Frank Cummins (Kilkenny) join the previous players from the team of the millennium in the new honours list.
Offaly have made five changes on the side which lost to Clare last Sunday for their final Division 1A fixture against Dublin in Birr on Sunday. The changes see Brian Mullins, Kevin Kinahan, Colm Cassidy, Aidan Mannion and Simon Whelehan return.
