Treaty dual stars delay decision on qualifier

A DECISION on the date and time of the Limerick footballers’ second round qualifier against Offaly won’t be made until next Monday due to their dual player commitments.

The seven other back door games were yesterday confirmed by the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) for Saturday week. But an agreement on the Limerick-Offaly game has been delayed as the hurlers are scheduled to be out the same day (July 9) if they beat Wexford in their own qualifier this Saturday.

Were Donal O’Grady’s side to win, their game could be rearranged for the Sunday, Munster final day.

County secretary Mike O’Riordan confirmed there is a slight dilemma at present as Stephen Lucey and Mark O’Riordan continue to make themselves available to both teams.

“It comes down to considering our dual players,” said O’Riordan. “The CCCC will make a decision on it next week.”

The battle between friends and Mullaghbawn natives Kieran McGeeney and Justin McNulty has been given top billing on Saturday week with TV3 showing live coverage of the Laois v Kildare game in Portlaoise (7pm).

Waterford are faced with forking out for an overnight stay as their footballers’ qualifier game against London has been fixed for 6.30pm.

“We’ll go out on the Saturday and come back on the Sunday, I’d say,” said county secretary Timmy O’Keefe.

Leitrim refused to travel to London for a meaningless Allianz FL Division Four game in April with secretary Diarmuid Sweeney citing it would have cost between €16,000 and €18,000 to fund the trip.

However, O’Keefe said the Déise would fulfil the fixture despite the expense. “Someone had to get it and we drew the long straw. You could say the short straw but I’d say it was the long straw in this case.”

All-Ireland SFC qualifiers (round two) (7pm unless stated, ET in all games if required):Saturday, July 9: Down v Leitrim, Newry, 3pm; Laois v Kildare, Portlaoise, (TV3); Longford v Tyrone, Pearse Park; Armagh v Wicklow, Morgan Athletic Grounds; Meath v Galway, Páirc Tailteann, Navan; Antrim v Carlow, Casement Park, 2pm; London v Waterford, Ruislip, 6.30pm.

Saturday, July 9/Sunday, July 10: Limerick v Offaly, Gaelic Grounds (TBC).