Busy meeting on cards for control committee

The GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) faces its busiest meeting since its inception in 2006, when it meets this morning at Croke Park.

With the GAA having had a turbulent time in the last couple of weeks, all eyes will be on today's meeting of the CCCC who will handle suspensions, fixture postponements and also the aftermath of the Cork players' strike.

The strike has left the National Hurling and Football Leagues in chaos, with the Wexford hurlers particularly aggrieved over their drop to Division 2 for next season.

"Wexford, Offaly, Laois and Antrim need to remain in Division 1," Wexford manager John Meyler said.

"If we keep disrupting the status quo, we are taking the emphasis off the promotion of hurling."

Top of the agenda will be the disciplinary action to be taken against Dublin senior football statistician Ray Boyne.

The Finglas native was named by Dublin GAA officials as the member of the Dubs' backroom staff who head-butted Monaghan footballer Tommy Freeman during the sides' recent NFL Division 2 clash at Parnell Park.

Meanwhile, the footballers of Limerick and Down will be awaiting news of their re-fixture in Division 3 after the Shannonsiders' long journey to Pairc Esler ended without a game on Saturday night.

In a statement on Saturday, the Down Co Board apologised for the eleventh hour decision to call off the match.

Down had hoped that the game could be fixed for the following day in either Newry, Castlewellan or Ballykinlar but due to Limerick's travel arrangements and the unavailability of some of their players on Sunday, this was not possible.

'Millennium man' Brian Whelahan is also expected to learn his fate after the Birr hurler struck an opponent late in his side's All-Ireland senior club hurling final defeat to Portumna on St Patrick's Day at Croke Park. He received a red card for his actions.

However, the 36-year-old is unlikely to appeal whatever punishment the CCCC hand down as the twice All-Ireland winner with Offaly is willing to take it all on the chin.

"My action was due to frustration at the way the match was going," Whelahan said.

"But that's no excuse. I'll just have to take my medicine but whatever length of suspension I receive won't have any bearing on what decision I'll take about my future."

Offaly's next game is in the Leinster championship on May 25 when they face neighbours Laois at O'Moore Park in Portlaoise.