Relegation confusion leads to deferrals

CONFUSION continues to reign over the All-Ireland SHC relegation race as GAA chiefs yesterday deferred this weekend’s Round 1 fixtures.

The identity of the four teams battling to beat the drop was confirmed on Saturday evening when Clare and Wexford were both defeated in their All-Ireland SHC Phase 2 qualifier ties. Clare against Wexford, and Antrim against Offaly were the two relegation matches originally pencilled in for this Saturday, but the CCCC decided yesterday to postpone the games until Saturday week, July 25th, citing the need to clarify promotion and relegation issues with An Coiste Bainistí.

The uncertainty has arisen following claims last week by Antrim officials that they were promised a three-year stint in Leinster when they agreed to enter the province last autumn and that participation in the Leinster SHC ensures eligibility for the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

Carlow’s Christy Ring Cup success last Saturday guarantees their presence in next year’s Leinster SHC but Antrim are insistent they cannot be thrown out of Leinster if they are the side relegated this year.

“The general consensus was that clarification was needed as regards the relegation games,” revealed GAA Communications Manager Alan Milton yesterday.

“The CCCC didn’t want teams playing games when they didn’t know what they were playing for. These matches do not have to be played this weekend and it was felt that the best course of policy was to clarify the matter with Coiste Bainistí.”

Meanwhile GAA chiefs also admitted yesterday there is a real prospect that one of this year’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals will be deferred from the August Bank Holiday weekend.

The four last eight showdowns were fixed for August 2nd-3rd, but Wexford and Roscommon’s Round 2 qualifier draw last Saturday has scuppered the GAA’s scheduling plans.

The replay between Wexford and Roscommon has been fixed for this Saturday, the winners due to face Meath in Round 3. But the GAA have pressed ahead with three Round 3 fixtures this weekend and with the Round 4 qualifier ties fixed for July 25th-26th, it looks certain that one of the All-Ireland quarter-finals will be put back a week.

“There is going to be a knock-on due to the Wexford and Roscommon draw,” stated Milton. “There has been no decision made yet on what way the fixtures will pan out and the CCCC will decide on that in due course. But it is quite possible that one of the quarter-finals will be changed.”

It was also announced yesterday that three qualifier ties will be broadcast live on Saturday. The Round 3 football match between Wicklow and Down will be shown on RTÉ 2 at 3pm, while TV3 will broadcast Kerry against Sligo at 5pm. The glamour hurling clash between Cork and Galway at 7pm will be shown on RTÉ 2.