Dublin champions Na Fianna have been granted a reprieve in the Leinster club semi-final controversy. Their match against Sarsfields of Kildare has been refixed for Newbridge next Sunday at 2.00 p.m..

Last Sunday's match between the clubs ended in a nine-point win for Na Fianna (3-11 to 1-8), but they brought on six substitutes - one more than permitted - and were facing forfeiture of the match under the provisions of the GAA's Official Guide.

Last night's specially-convened Leinster Council meeting sanctioned the refixture, which had been agreed by both clubs.

In the end, an accommodation was reached and both clubs were represented at the meeting.

Dessie Farrell was the sixth Na Fianna player to be substituted and expressed relief. "I think it was the best-case scenario for us. The rules and regulations are quite clear on this and we could have been put out. Thankfully, commonsense prevailed."

Kevin Brennan, secretary of Sarsfields, said that his club was also satisfied with the outcome. "We were happy with the outcome. We wouldn't have taken the match or expected Na Fianna to be put out of the competition. We spoke to them this (Monday) morning about it. I think we were below-par on the day and don't believe that nine points was a fair reflection on the difference between the teams."

The behind-the-scenes moves began yesterday morning when Leinster secretary Michael Delaney telephoned the Kildare county secretary Richie Whelan to inform him of the special meeting of the provincial council's Games Administration Committee. A representative of Na Fianna made contact with Sarsfields and the matter was discussed.

It was a tricky situation from the council's point of view, as they were anxious not to set a precedent whereby similar breaches of the rule could be challenged.

In 1995 a Leinster championship match was refixed after Laois had defeated Carlow by a point that was subsequently shown to have gone wide. With the referee's report showing Laois the winners, the provincial council could do nothing had Laois not offered the rematch.

Last night, according to Brennan: "We formally offered to replay the match and that was accepted."

The home advantage for Sunday's match to decide who faces Rathnew in the final was not a price demanded by Sarsfields for their co-operation, but actually a response to their unhappiness with last weekend's venue.

"All we said was that we didn't want to go back to Navan," said Brennan. "We got a lot of hassle there and one of our trainers who had got delayed in traffic wasn't allowed on to the field when he arrived. We had words with local officials but to no avail."

On the question of whether former All Star Niall Buckley would be recovered sufficiently from injury to fly home from the US for the match, he was doubtful. "I don't think so but we won't know until later on."

There were two other issues on the agenda last night. One was automatically decided. Rathnew's request to postpone the football final in recognition of their having played four matches on successive weekends was granted by circumstances, as the final will have to wait on the outcome of Sunday's refixture.

It was also decided to defer the Leinster hurling final replay, which had been due to be played Sunday. Instead, it'll be played on December 16th. In the immediate aftermath of the drawn final on Sunday, Castletown of Laois had looked for a postponement, as a replay within seven days would have given them three matches in successive weeks.

There was initial talk of refusing to turn up for a replay should it be fixed for next Sunday, but that threat was denied by the club later yesterday. Instead they applied in writing for the extra week's rest and ended up getting a fortnight.