Hurlers may escape ban over boot advertising deal

THE two Cork hurlers at the centre of controversial boot advertising deal with a beer company may escape a ban because of a loophole in the GAA’s rules on gear endorsement.

Croke Park's disciplinary committee will meet next week to consider possible action arising from the deal between Corona beer and Cork's Kieran Murphy and All-Star Niall McCarthy.

But GAA president Sean Kelly admitted yesterday that the affair underlined the need for "watertight" guidelines on what constitutes 'playing gear' for the purpose of sponsorship a reference to the question of whether a player's boots are his own property or part of the official kit.