Crokes boss Carr backs St Patrick’s Day club slot

KILMACUD CROKES manager Paddy Carr has defended the All-Ireland club championships’ St Patrick’s Day slot.

Fixture congestion has again raised its head in recent weeks with some of the Dublin club’s players asked to skip other duties to concentrate on their decider date with Crossmaglen Rangers. Mark Vaughan and Cian O’Sullivan missed the Sigerson finals weekend in Cork earlier this month while Dublin’s senior and U21 sides have also had to make do without their Crokes contingents.

Dublin manager Pat Gilroy suggested last week that the extension of the club championship three months into the new year seemed excessive for just two rounds and mooted the prospect of it being completed prior to Christmas.