Race against time for Seanie Johnston on Kildare option

Seanie Johnston faces a race against time if he is to have the option of lining out for the Kildare senior footballers this year.

The Cavan native has just eight days for his transfer to go through if he is feature for the Lilywhites in this year's Championship.

Johnston's application for a transfer from Cavan Gaels to Kildare side St Kevin's is currently with the newly-appointed Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC), who are due to meet tonight to give further consideration to the matter.

However, it now appears that a decision on the application is unlikely to be made at this evening's meeting.

A new rule passed at the GAA Congress in Killenard last month means that a player who wishes to move to another county must first play in the local Championship for his new club.

That means that Johnston will have to first play for St Kevin's before he can be considered for the Kildare team.

Johnston was a visible part of the Kildare party during their recent Allianz NFL Division 2 final against Tyrone, and sat with the substitutes during the game.

With just one round of the Kildare Senior Football Championship due to take place ahead of Kildare's Leinster SFC quarter-final against Offaly on June 17, Johnston's transfer must go ahead before St. Kevin's clash with St. Mary's, Leixlip on Saturday week.

Kildare County Board secretary Kathleen O'Neill told the Irish Times that rescheduling this club fixture was highly unlikely.

"I wouldn't think there'll be any moving of the fixture. That weekend has been designated for clubs and no one's looking for any changes," she said.

"We're bound by the rule and it's out of our hands. There's a new committee in Croke Park dealing with the matter and we'll have to wait for their decision."