Gaelic Games News round-upTyrone's chances of having representation in this year's provincial club football championship may ultimately rest with the Ulster Council. All four provinces have now finalised the draw and dates for their upcoming championship, and the All-Ireland football winners are by far the most pressed to stay on schedule.
It's not the first time the reigning All-Ireland champions have had problems concluding their county championship before entering the provincial competition, but Tyrone must play off their quarter-finals, semi-finals and final before October 29th, when they are due to play Fermanagh champions Teemore in the preliminary round of the Ulster club championship.
Cork, the All-Ireland hurling winners, will have no such problems, as their county representatives aren't in action until November 20th, when they'll play either the Kerry or Tipperary champions. Cloyne and Newtownshandrum meet in the Cork hurling final on Sunday week, so baring a replay they'll have a five-week lay-off before their provincial date.
The Leinster club championship will get underway on October 30th with the four first-round games of the hurling competition. All eight counties are on schedule to provide their winners on time, while the football competition gets under November 6th.
Connacht get their championship underway next weekend, with the preliminary rounds of both football and hurling. The latter will conclude with the Galway champions playing the semi-final winners on November 13th.
Tyrone's problems has resulted from a combination of factors, not least of all the county's hectic championship campaign that involved 10 matches. All four quarter-finals will take place this weekend, with the semi-finals on the 16th, and the final on the 23rd - which would give the winners just six days to prepare for their provincial tie.
The clubs have agreed to play extra time at all remaining stages to reduce the likelihood of a replay, but further problems may arise if the clubs that contain the Tyrone members of the Irish International Rules team continue to progress. There are five such players in action this weekend. Ryan McMenamin is in action for Dromore against Edendork, while Seán Cavanagh and Philip Jordan will play for Moy against Errigal Ciaran. The Clan na nGael pair of Brian Dooher and Stephen O'Neill are due also to line out against Omagh.
According to Tyrone secretary Dominick McCaughey, the Ulster Council have hinted that they would consider deferring the county's provincial tie. "The first thing we can do is play our semi-final on Saturday the 15th, which means if any of the clubs left still have players involved with the International Rules they can fly out as planned on the Sunday.
"But obviously if say it's Moy that progress to the final they can't be expected to play the final on the 23rd without Seán Cavanagh and Philip Jordan. And the same with the Dromore and Clan na nGael. In that case we would be looking for a postponement from the Ulster Council, and we have been made aware that the Ulster Council are prepared to do that."
There's another potential scheduling problem in the Ulster football championship. The Antrim county final needs to be played before November 6th, when the winners are due to meet the Tyrone champions or Teemore, yet that competition has been held up after St Paul's appealed against Lamh Dhearg's quarter-final win.
Meanwhile, several other counties are still in the process of finalising team managers for the coming year. The special committee set up to explore Waterford's hurling options is due to report to the county board next Monday, and while Justin McCarthy is known to be considering another year in charge, it remains to be seen if he will get the final go ahead.
The player involved in the breaking of Redmond Barry's jaw has been banned for six months.John Bergin of Sarsfields received a straight red card for the incident in his club's senior football championship quarter-final clash with St Anne's.
Bergin was hauled before the Wexford County Disciplinary Committee on Tuesday night. His ban dates from the date of the game, which means that he will miss just one championship game in 2006.
Leinster football, first round: 1 Carlow v Longford (Dromard), 2 Westmeath v Louth (Mattock Rangers), 3 Kilkenny v Meath, 4 Wicklow v Offaly (Rhode), (to be played November 6th). Quarter-finals: 1 v Kildare, 2 v Wexford, 3 v Dublin, 4 v Laois (to be played on November 13th). Semi-finals November 20th: Final December 4th.
Hurling, first round: 1 Kildare v Carlow (Naomh Eoin), 2 Wesmeath v Wicklow (Glenealy), 3 Dublin v Meath (Killyon), 4 Louth v Longford (to be played on October 30th): Quarter-finals: 1 v Kilkenny, 2 v Laois, 3 v Offaly, 4 v Wexford (to be played on November 6th). Semi-finals: November 13th. Final: November 27th.
Munster football, quarter-finals: 1 Limerick (Monaleen) v Clare, 2 Tipperary v Cork (to be played on November 13th). Semi-finals: 1 v Kerry, 2 v Waterford (to be played on November 27th). Final: December 11th.
Hurling, quarter-finals: 1 Tipperary v Kerry, 2 Limerick v Waterford (to be played on November 6th). Semi-finals: 1 v Cork, 2 v Clare (to be played on November 20th). Final: December 4th.
Ulster football, preliminary: 1 Fermanagh (Teemore) v Tyrone, October 29th. Quarter-finals: 1 v Antrim, Donegal v Down (Mayobridge), Derry (Bellaghy) v Armagh, Cavan v Monaghan (to be played on November 6th). Semi-finals: TBC.
Hurling, semi-final: 1 Derry (Banagher) v Antrim (Cushendall), October 16th. Final: 1 v Down, October 30th.
Connacht football, preliminary: 1 Sligo (Coolera Strandhill) v Leitrim (Kiltubrid), October 16th. Semi-finals: 1 v Roscommon (St Brigid's), Galway v Mayo (Crossmolina) (to be played November 6th). Final: November 20th.
Hurling, preliminary: 1 Mayo (Ballyhaunis) v Roscommon, 2 Leitrim (St Mary's) v Sligo (to be played on October 15th/16th). Semi-final: 1 v 2. Final: v Galway November 13th.
