CORK hurling manager Denis Walsh has slammed the GAA’s decision to ban inter-county training sessions in November and December.

GAA chiefs last night insisted that the feedback from the grassroots to the proposed official recognition of the GPA has been “pretty positive”.

CORK hurling boss Denis Walsh has finalised his backroom setup for the 2010 campaign by enlisting the services of former Munster rugby fitness coach Mark McManus and former Cork minor physical trainer Donal Burke.

“DEFINITELY a man who knew the GAA inside out!’’ That was the tribute yesterday from Mick Dolan, who completed his three-year term as chairman last December. “Frank was a most helpful man to anybody who was in difficulties and he gave great advice to me and a lot of other people. He will be a huge loss, but time moves on.’’

THE Cork County Board executive last night refused to accept a motion of no-confidence in the executive over their handling of the recent hurling dispute that had been proposed by the Ballyhea GAA Club.

GAA fans around the country awoke yesterday to another brewing row between players, management and officials in Cork. Michael Moynihan offers an insight into the background of this festering conflict.

DOUBTS have been raised about the procedure used to appoint Teddy Holland as Cork senior football manager in November, with the appointments committee established to find a manager coming under scrutiny.

The story of a GAA star's battle against his gambling addiction was today announced as a contender for a major book award.

GPA chief Dessie Farrell was one of many who voiced concern about the worrying state of club competitions at Saturday’s Special Congress in Croke Park. He felt club players were “being held to ransom” by the inter-county games structure.

OUTGOING GAA President Sean Kelly last night made a robust defence of the December 10 Central Council decision to agree to the playing of (six) rugby and soccer internationals in Croke Park in 2007.

GAA chief Liam Mulvihill insisted yesterday there was nothing he could envisage happening to prevent rugby and soccer internationals going ahead at Croke Park next year.

WARNINGS of a deteriorating situation in regard to the coaching of games at primary and second-level in the schools in Cork were the feature of debate at yesterday’s Cork GAA convention at Páirc Uí Chaiomh.

LAST NIGHT’S Cork County Board meeting heard a call for panels of inter county teams to be again reduced to 24 players.

A SECRET ballot could make the critical difference in the GAA vote on opening up Croke Park, campaigners said last night.

A TWO-THIRDS majority will be required, whether Congress votes on a temporary or permanent opening of Croke Park for rugby and soccer this afternoon.

LIMITING county panels to 24 (from next year) will only provide the GPA with “a stick to beat the GAA with,” warned Kilkenny Chairman Ned Quinn at the GAA Congress in the Great Southern Hotel.

THE GAA should seriously consider making Croke Park available for soccer and rugby for the two years while Lansdowne Road is being developed.

CORK should ‘vigorously oppose’ the re-organisation of the inter-county senior hurling championship because of the severe impact it could have on club games.

FORMER defender, Conor Counihan has emerged as Billy Morgan’s main rival to replace Larry Tompkins as Cork football manager.

THE Cork senior football coach for the coming year will have the right to name his own selectors.

DAVE KEANE had his two-year contract as manager of the Limerick Senior Hurling team terminated last evening after a vote of no confidence.

FORMER Cork star Niall Cahalane believes the County Board should allow the Rebel’s next senior football manager appoint his own selectors.

COMPETING counties in this year’s All-Ireland senior finals can look forward to receiving an extra 1,500 tickets each, but the general allocation to counties will be reduced by approximately 5%, the GAA’s Central Council has agreed.

CONSUMPTION of alcohol among inter-county players in the GAA has decreased considerably, according to association president Sean McCague.

NEW Cork hurling manager Donal O’Grady, whose appointment was formally ratified at a special meeting of the County Board last evening, has yet to finalise his five-man selection committee.

THE Executive Committee of Cork County Board last night launched a strongly worded rebuttal of the numerous claims which forced the county’s hurling panel to withdraw their services on Friday.

TWO of the recommendations adopted by the Special Congress on Saturday related to sharply contrasting issues - the number of years that county officers should be permitted to serve and the potential danger of having young players competing in age groups unsuitable to their age group.

IT should come as no surprise that hurling in three of Cork’s premier colleges — North Monastery CBS, St Finbarr’s Farranferris and Colaiste Chriost Ri — has hit rock-bottom and all three lost their opening games in the round robin series of the Irish Examiner sponsored Dr Harty Cup this week.

JOHN O'DWYER was on board an aircraft, returning from the Leinster football final when the draw for the fourth round of the Bank of Ireland football qualifier competition was announced, pitting Kerry against Kildare.