Fixtures fall foul of stand-off

BARRING an eleventh-hour resolution of the Cork dispute, a number of attractive fixtures in hurling and football will be lost as a result of their withdrawal from the Allianz National Leagues.

With the Meath football game (away) and the highly attractive clash with the All-Ireland hurling champions Kilkenny on Sunday falling by the wayside, next up would have been a home clash with Leinster football champions Dublin on February 16 under lights in Páirc Uí Rinn.

Another home game the same weekend with Munster hurling champions Waterford would be a further casualty, all the more regrettable for both sets of supporters bearing in mind the quality of their meetings in both league and championship in recent years.