Dublin football tickets are first to sell out

GAELIC GAMES NEWS ROUND-UP:DUBLIN'S FOOTBALLERS have become the first county team to sell out their season ticket allocation, although sales of the tickets nationally haven't been as brisk as anticipated.

The GAA's new initiative, launched last week, set each county's allocation at 250 per team per code and, for €75, entitles the holder to a seat for all National League matches and the county's first championship fixture, as well as to an option on tickets for all of the county's subsequent matches, including the All-Ireland final if they reach it.

Ronan Murphy, the GAA's ticketing officer, he says the opening NFL fixture between Dublin and Tyrone, which is to be played under lights at Croke Park as the curtain raiser to the GAA's 125th anniversary celebrations, has helped the tickets get snapped up in both counties.

"Dublin sold out and we're confident that Tyrone will do so shortly. That match is a big attraction, but other counties have been a bit slower than expected. But for those who are interested I'd advise to get it sooner rather than later, as we expect demand to step up when the tickets are promoted."

All-Ireland hurling champions Kilkenny are also expected to sell their allocation before the season starts.

According to Murphy, consideration is being given to tweaking the scheme. One issue that has arisen is that of the possibility of accompanying the ticket holder, as, unlike on the terraces, it isn't possible to guarantee being with friends or family.

"We've spent some time thinking about this," he said, "and while it doesn't make a big difference for most of the games, as there won't be reserved seating, there is obviously a problem for anyone who wants to sit beside someone at an all-ticket fixture.

"So we've been looking at introducing, where possible, a scheme to enable ticket holders to purchase a ticket for the seat beside theirs. This should alleviate some of the problems, although we would have to work out the details with the provincial councils."

Meanwhile, there are suggestions in Cork that the county board may attempt to address the impasse between the county's senior hurlers and manager Gerald McCarthy.

Last year's first-choice players have refused to make themselves available for McCarthy's panel and the manager has been working with very young players, with whom he organised a trial match on Sunday in Páirc Uí­ Chaoimh. Meanwhile, the senior players continue to train among themselves, avoiding the GAA ban on close-season activity, as they are not part of the county panel.

Nonetheless, the feeling in the county is pessimistic given the refusal of senior players to engage with McCarthy, whose re-appointment for a further two years they opposed, and the manager's determination to push ahead without the dissidents if necessary.

Cork are due to play the winners of Kerry and Waterford IT in next month's Waterford Crystal Cup.

There is a belief that the county officers will want at least to be seen to be trying to find a solution. The county's convention takes place on Saturday, and it was noticeable that the annual report from county secretary Frank Murphy comparatively soft-pedals the executive point of view in relation to the stand-off.

Suggestions that some of the younger senior players have been considering a return to the panel for the season appear, however, to be without foundation, according to at least one well-placed source outside of the players' group.

Saturday will see incoming chair Jerry O'Sullivan, father of full back Diarmuid, take office, and it is believed he will be anxious to explore any possible common ground between the players and McCarthy. But the divisions appear so irreconcilable that it's hard to see what initiative could form the basis of a resolution.

Finally, at last night's Dublin annual convention outgoing chair Gerry Harrington was returned for another year after defeating former incumbent John Bailey by 166 votes to 61.

• Tipperary senior hurling team manager Liam Sheedy will appoint his captain for the season if a motion to amend the county's "club rule" is passed at annual convention next Sunday. At present, the reigning county champions have the right to nominate the captain of the Tipperary team.

It is understood some members of the county board executive would be in favour of abolishing the status quo, but the matter rests in the hands of delegates attending the convention at the Thurles Sarsfields Social Centre.

When the matter was last debated, in 2005, it was heavily defeated, but a fresh motion has been submitted from Fr Sheehy's, the home club of incoming county board chair Barry O'Brien.

The motion proposes handing the power to appoint the captain to team management, in conjunction with the county board.