Kilkenny gesture to Cork rejected

Despite Kilkenny's offer to play their National Hurling League fixture with Cork the GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee…

Despite Kilkenny's offer to play their National Hurling League fixture with Cork the GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) have rejected the request which had hoped to be refixed for this weekend.

The game was originally supposed to be played as the National League opener at Páirc Uí Chaoimh earlier this month, but wasn't possible due to the Cork player strike with their county board.

Rule 136 of the Official Guide was applied by the CCCC when awarding the points to Kilkenny and Waterford, who they were supposed to play in their second league fixture last weekend. The same applied to the Cork footballers as Meath and Dublin were awarded points.

Yesterday GAA President Nickey Brennan reaffirmed the matter was being dealt with by the CCCC. "We're not getting involved. The CCCC have deliberated on the matter, and they have our support.

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"I'm well aware of Kilkenny's attitude to these things, and that they're only interested in playing hurling. It was a decent gesture by them. But no matter what way I feel about it, it is a CCCC matter, and we'll leave it to them."

This week's CCCC statement following the strike resolution read: "The CCCC of the GAA stated on Tuesday evening that they had taken the decision that Cork should forfeit the Allianz National League points to the opponents that they failed to meet in the first two rounds of the Leagues, Meath and Dublin in football and Kilkenny and Waterford in hurling."

"Cork have also been fined €400 per game unfulfilled.  The remaining games in the National Leagues will take place as scheduled."

As a result Cork will not be in competitive action until Saturday, March 8th when they are due to take on Dublin in Parnell Park.