THERE was, apparently, an 18th century naval battle which was waged for a shorter amount of time than its subsequent thanksgiving service in Westminster Abbey. Similarly, the GAA's most publicised recent battle was over in a trice compared to the melancholy contemplation it provoked in Croke Park last night.

In fact, the GAA's Games Administration Committee's (GAC) deliberations on the fractious All Ireland football replay long outstripped the combined duration of both this year's drawn final and its sequel.

The intense media interest in the fates of the 15 players - and two managers called to give evidence in respect of the faction fight that broke out in the early stages of last month's replay was to go unsatisfied.

What action the GAC is to take will not be known until tonight after they have conveyed their decision to the respective county boards who will relay it to the players concerned.

From early yesterday, the evening's plot was laid bare. Players would be called in one by one to give evidence and only after hearing everything would the GAC consider their response to the controversy will relay it to the players concerned.

From early yesterday, the evening's plot was laid bare. Players would be called in one by one to give evidence and only after hearing everything would the GAC consider their response to the controversy.

In stern affirmation of the earlier announcement that no news would be issued last night, the GAA locked the doors to Aras Daimhin until the last of the players had been admitted.

Still the journalists gathered, circling around the yard outside like gannets over an empty dustbin. The action started at 6.30 with the arrival of the Mayo delegation. For reasons that hardly need elaboration, the GAC had decided on the discretion of calling the counties in separate shifts with Meath due two hours later.

A minibus bearing the imprint of Corduff Travel bore the Mayomen into the car park and they filed into the waiting room where delicacies had been laid on in a show of hospitality that doubtless impressed the players.

Unfortunately, none felt in a position to comment when they emerged nearly two hours later. Hope beat eternal in the breasts of those waiting outside who had generally agreed that the only relevant question with any chance of a response was: "Do you think you got a fair hearing?"

Sadly, this proved a bit too easy to answer - "Yes," "Grand" and "I don't know" being the best of the considered responses - and as Mayo further complicated the process by leaving in tight lipped pairs, there was to be no picking off incautious comments from any stragglers in a group exit.

At 7.50, Liam McHale and his team captain Noel Connelly emerged and strode out towards the gate. They may have been aware of several pairs of red eyes following them stealthily through the shadows, but it didn't seem to bother them.

Eventually, the media representatives ventured as far as the exit and peered at the disappearing duo as they sauntered off down Jones's Road, presumably in the direction of the nearest saloon bar, as seasonal bangers cracked off in the night putting the more nervous in mind of retributive gunshots.

McHale and Connelly were followed by David Brady and Colm McManamon. Later, Ray Dempsey and Anthony Finnerty later.

John Casey was the seventh player called but a student in Letterkenny RTC, he was unable to make the appointment.

Meath were even less conversational. They came in three ears and when synchronised with team manager Sean Boylan and county chairman Fintan Ginnity in a fourth vehicle, made their way into the building. One in, all in after a fashion.

Boylan, fetchingly dapper in a light suit, paused to affirm his loyalty to whatever decision the GAC might reach. While he made this modest observation, Ginnity performed a slick media handling routine by attempting to shield Boylan's head from the prying lenses of the photographic corps.

Next, Mayo's manager John Maughan and his county chairman Fr Noel Forde left and made their way towards the Corduff bus.

After Maughan had offered a variation on the replies to The Question "Do you think you got a fair hearing?". "I think so" - Forde said that they had nothing at all to say and would be informed of the decision by post.

By post? By fax, official sources suggested later.

It was after 11 o'clock when the Meath contingent finally departed. Again. Sean Boylan proved the most susceptible of the night's participants to saying something. Replying to a solicitous enquiry as to the difficulty of the last few weeks, he observed: "Well, it couldn't be as bad as talking to the media, you know what I mean." Cue raucous laughter.

Did he have to break his holidays?

"No, the money ran out." After it nearly took mouth to mouth to revive the hysterical media representatives scorned for the evening but now actually being engaged in conversation (the funniest guy in the world is talking to us) the talk reverted to sober type.

"We knew it was going to happen, knew something was going to happen because the GAC has been under a lot of pressure and that's the way life is. Whether you like it or not, when you're All Ireland champions that's the way things happen, And the same if you've been the defeated side. We've all had this before. There's been huge pressure on everybody and we're glad that this part of it is over and just hope that there's a favourable result for everybody tomorrow.

Speculation on the likely outcome remained as idle as ever, although GAA PRO Danny Lynch had been at pains in a broadcast statement yesterday to emphasise that not all those asked to give evidence were necessarily facing suspension, just helping the GAC with their enquiries.