LONGFORD HURLING manager Matt McLoughlin has raised questions about the validity of the Gaelic Players Association/Halifax-endorsed twinning project devised to pair weaker intercounty panels with elite counties, reports Gavin Cummiskey.

Longford are twinned with Wexford and it is the responsibility of the weaker county board to drive the new project - not the GPA or sponsors Halifax.

"We have heard nothing about twinning with Wexford," said McLoughlin. "Sligo were down training with Offaly last weekend so we know it has begun in some counties. We don't expect to hear anything either. There were three Longford hurlers picked for the Shinty international last year but they were never contacted by the Longford County Board. That also remains a mystery. We are absolutely disgusted as hurling is dying in the county and there is very little we can do about it."

The hurling team have effectively withdrawn from the Nicky Rackard Cup after the local competition controls committee scheduled club football fixtures on the same day and 24 hours after their opening game against Dublin Fingal. As a result, Longford will be unable to field a team because of dual players' football commitments taking priority.

"The same thing happened against Wicklow recently and again last year," continued McLoughlin. "We were promised by county board secretary Seamus Quinn that it wouldn't happen again. They are putting money into the promotion of hurling in Longford with the twinning with Wexford. It is all grand at the top, but when it comes down to the bottom we are not allowed to play."

McLoughlin went on to state the hurling representative on the Longford CCC, Enda Corcoran, was not notified about the recent fixtures meeting.

Longford PRO John Duffy last night stated the board were seeing "if they can reach some agreement" regarding the fixture clash.