Dubs ‘can’t play Cork until November or December’

CORK’S inability to play tonight’s NFL game against Dublin will cause a fixture nightmare in the capital, with Metropolitan GAA chiefs claiming they can’t play the game until “November or December”.

Croke Park yesterday agreed to postpone the Rebels’s football and hurling ties this weekend as a resolution to their dispute moved a step closer.

Added a Croke Park spokesperson: “Any further decision in regard to these fixtures will be taken by the Central Competitions Control Committee next Tuesday.”

However Dublin GAA officials say they will be unable to replay the game until the year’s end as they attempt to comply with new GAA regulations to ensure more games for club players.

County chairman Gerry Harrington, though expressing delight at a potential resolution in his native county, admits that the Dubs cannot accommodate a re-fixture until after the All-Ireland championships and the conclusion of their domestic campaigns.

He explained: “The postponement of the game against Cork leaves Dublin in a quandary. At last Monday night’s county committee meeting, our fixture plan for 2008 was ratified and that factored in Dublin playing Cork this weekend.

“What has happened is not of our making. We had to factor our club fixtures into the Croke Park master fixtures plan as we do every year. We attended Special Congress last month where the issue of club players and club fixtures was chief topic of discussion.

“In Dublin, we have approximately 6,000 adult players. We run off approximately 5,000 fixtures every year. To achieve that we have to run a very, very tight schedule. I cannot see a gap to play the Cork match until November or December.”

He added that he has made Croke Park bosses aware of the issue.

“Now we must wait and see the outcome of the meeting of the CCCC on Tuesday night. All we know for sure is that the game is postponed. We’ve explained our situation. What I would say is we complied with regulations. It is going to be very difficult to play this game again until we have a break in the club schedule.”

However he added: “I would like to say I’m delighted that progress is being made in Cork and hopefully we will see both teams back playing. Every one wants to see them playing. There is great credit due to all parties and to LRC chief Kieran Mulvey and Ard Stiúrthóir Paraic Duffy.”

Croke Park bosses must also re-fix the first round games involving Meath footballers and Kilkenny hurlers.

Kilkenny GAA chiefs last week issued a statement saying they were flexible with regards a rematch however Royals’ boss Colm Coyle has warned his side will “not be bullied into playing Cork no matter what the consequences”.