Rebel hurlers’ refusal to play Cats would not be fatal

GAA chiefs last night emphasised that Cork will not be kicked out of the National Leagues if their hurlers fail to fulfil their NHL opener against Kilkenny on Sunday.

Croke Park bosses dismissed suggestions that the Rebels would be booted out of both competitions if the county failed to contest their second successive weekend of league action.

Officials yesterday released a statement saying that counties may postpone one game in both the football and hurling leagues before the possibility of elimination occurs.

A decision on whether the game against Kilkenny will be played is expected within the next 24 hours.

The game was included in the official fixture list yesterday with Galway’s Michael Haverty set to take charge of the Páirc Uí Chaoimh tie at 2.30pm.

“In relation to games not played in the Allianz football league at the weekend, the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee have confirmed that March 9 was the date originally allocated to accommodate any necessary re-fixtures from the first round of the football league.

“The CCCC have indicated, however, that where counties reach agreement to play before that date, this can be facilitated by the Committee.

“The next meeting of the CCCC will take place on February 19.

“The Association has also sought to clarify the situation in relation to counties not fulfilling league fixtures.

“It has pointed out that the Central Council meeting of January 26 agreed that in the event of two games in the Hurling or Football Competitions being awarded in circumstances where a given county cannot field a team, the county shall be automatically disqualified from the current National League in the code in which the two games were not fulfilled.