GAA to clamp down on promo rip-offs

Concern has been expressed that various types of promotional material are being produced without permission and without any financial benefit accruing either to county committees or the teams.

"We know it's going on in Cork," commented the GAA's Marketing Manager in Croke Park, Dermot Power yesterday.

"We have been contacted by a few people inquiring if it is supported by the GAA and the answer is an unequivocal no."

The specific issue was posters and wall charts, displaying photographs of Cork teams, around which advertising was sold, he explained.

"No contribution is being made to the County Board or the players' fund. The impression given is that these projects are officially approved, which they are not.

"It's something we are concerned about. We think it's exploiting the players and we are taking action to try and stop it.

"We would like if companies wishing to support ventures like these would check with the County Board to see if they have been sanctioned. The idea of people making no contribution to the games or the players' fund is absolutely unacceptable."

Meanwhile, at a more general level, county committees are being encouraged to take action themselves by patenting their official crests.

This enables them to receive a percentage of sales of replica jerseys and, more pertinently, allows them to legally prevent anybody else either from producing or selling 'unofficial' jerseys.

In this regard, the Limerick County Board successfully took legal action against an outlet last year.

Last weekend's meeting of the Central Council was told that twelve counties have failed to register their crests. Failure to do so, delegates were advised by President Sean Kelly, was to leave themselves open to exploitation by 'fly-by-night' operators.

Meanwhile Tyrone's Gerard Cavlan has declared himself fit to face Armagh in the All-Ireland football final on September 28.

The attacker missed a club championship game last weekend with a calf muscle injury, but is due to resume training next week.

With skipper Peter Canavan already in a race against time to recover from ankle ligament damage in time for the all-Ulster decider, the loss of Cavlan had threatened to rob the side of its two most experienced attackers.

But hopes are growing both will be fit to face defending champions Armagh in just over three weeks time.

Canavan had a cast removed from his left ankle earlier this week, and is receiving specialist treatment in a bid to accelerate recovery from strained ligaments, but is unlikely to undertake any kind of training until the final week of preparations for the decider.

Tyrone otherwise report a clean bill of health for their third All-Ireland final appearance Ireland's opening International Compromise Rules Test against Australia at the Subiaco Oval in Perth on Friday, October 24 has been sold out.

An attendance of approximately 43,000 is anticipated. When the sides last met at that venue in 1990 there was an attendance of less than 15,000.

Tickets for the Second Test in Melbourne's MCG Ground on Friday, 24 October have not yet gone on general sale, but a large attendance is also anticipated by the AFL.

The Irish Team Manager, John O'Keeffe is proposing to announce the Irish squad selected to travel to Australia in the first week in October.

The Irish party will depart Ireland on Saturday, October 18 and arrive back in Ireland on Friday, November 7.