GAA president Aogán Ó Fearghail says Louth are responsible for having to play their qualifier against Derry six days after they lost a Leinster quarter-final to Meath.

Imagine for a moment no Liam MacCarthy or Sam Maguire Cup presented to a winning captain on a September weekend. Or being kept off the field after a county final in which your club has outscored its opponent after years of you all dreaming of this moment, unable to greet and embrace neighbours and friends, any glorious autumnal homecoming and bonfire put on hold.

Meath 4-21 Antrim 5-17: Victorious Meath manager Martin Ennis finished up Saturday evening’s post-match media briefing with a wry smile. “I hope to God none of ye lot are ringing me tomorrow!”

Ultra-experienced Meath attacker Steven Clynch decided a quite incredible Christy Ring Cup final replay with a 93rd minute winning point to seal a first ever title for the Royal County.

Meath hurling boss Martin Ennis has lambasted the GAA’s decision to replay the Christy Ring Cup final replay in Newry on Saturday.

Other than how referee John O’Brien could have got it so wrong on Saturday, the most pertinent question arising from the Christy Ring Cup final surrounded the role of HawkEye in Croke Park. 

Meath hurling chairman TJ Reilly believes it would be impossible to stage a replay of the Christy Ring Cup final.

The Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) are set to order a replay of the Christy Ring Cup final between Antrim and Meath when they meet to discuss the referee’s report from Saturday’s game. 

Kerry strode to a 1-20 to 0-12 victory over Derry in the Christy Ring Cup final, lifting their second title and avoiding a third successive defeat in the Croke Park decider.

Kerry 6-27 Kildare 0-9: Kerry manager Eamon Kelly was quick to try to dampen down expectations as Kerry blitzed the team that beat them in last year’s Christy Ring Cup final to book a place in next week’s decider.

What are the chances of success of the various proposals? Irish Examiner writers consider the options.

Former Kerry hurling trainer Tom Howard has cited a lack of commitment by some players as the reason for his sudden departure.

Just as he brought some fresh thinking to hurling as a player, Donal Óg Cusack has thankfully extended the same as a pundit.

Down 3-16 Kerry 2-17

Down 0-23 Meath 1-10

Kerry 1-14 Kildare 0-11

After 180 minutes of action, London eventually booked their place in next weekend's Christy Ring Cup Final thanks to a 2-16 to 2-13 extra-time win over Down in Ruislip.

Wicklow will contest the Christy Ring Cup final at Croke Park on Saturday, June 9 after beating Leinster rivals Meath. But their opponents in the decider have yet to be confirmed as Down and London drew their semi-final after extra-time.

Mayo’s Aidan O’Shea has become embroiled in a row between his county board and club Mayo Dublin, the Mayo GAA Supporters’ Club in the capital.

CHRISTY RING Cup holders Kerry have applied to Central Council for a rule change to allow the competition’s winners to enter the All-Ireland SHC qualifiers from next season.

Kerry 2-21 Wicklow 2-8

IF HURLING was horse racing, then the Boyles from Ballyduff would be thoroughbreds. On Saturday Mikey will lead out a Kerry side into Croke Park for the Christy Ring Cup final alongside brothers Liam, Aidan and Pádraig.

Down 1-17 Kerry 1-18

Wicklow 3-11 Kildare 2-11

NEXT year’s All-Ireland Championships are set to kick-off with a whimper rather than a bang when Connacht champions Roscommon travel to face New York in their provincial senior football opener on May 1 after GAA chiefs yesterday released their official fixture list for the 2011 season.

ONLY winners take all in Kerry, when it comes to garnering official honours for sporting achievements.

JOHN MEYLER is just 60 minutes from further enhancing his reputation as Kerry’s hurling messiah.

FOR their first Christy Ring Cup final, the hurlers of Kerry will play favourites Westmeath and if they’re lucky, they’ll have the support of a couple of thousand.

The Dublin footballers will make a return trip to Croke Park for their All-Ireland SFC second round qualifier against Tipperary on Saturday week (July 10).

HE is probably the most criticised footballer in the GAA – even inside his native Kerry – but there isn’t a football county worthy of the name that wouldn’t jump at the chance to have Paul Galvin in their ranks.

Kerry 2-17 Wicklow 2-14

Antrim 3-20 Down 4-15, Casement Park

GAA chiefs yesterday announced that the country’s lesser lights are set to take centre stage in Croke Park on July 4th, with the fixing of the Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cup deciders.

Down 2-17 Derry 1-15

Down 4-21 Mayo 0-14

Westmeath 0-16 Carlow 0-09

AFTER masterminding Carlow’s greatest hurling hour last Sunday, Jim Greene found himself reluctantly slipping into the role of a killjoy.

The Central Competitions Control Committee of the GAA has confirmed that Carlow and Westmeath have refused the option of playing the Christy Ring Cup final as a curtain raiser to the All-Ireland football quarter-final game involving Dublin in Croke Park.

Carlow 1-16 Mayo 0-17

Westmeath 2-22 Kildare 3-13

Adrian McAndrew has been drafted into the Kildare team for Sunday's Christy Ring Cup final against Westmeath (Croke Park, throw-in 12.15pm).