Rebels by name

It must have been a right barrel of laughs on the recent tour by Cork footballers to South America given that some of the County Board officials they are at war with were on the trip.

The 'strike' called by the Cork footballers because the County Board insist on appointing a manager's selectors seemed like an ideal pre-Christmas row.

The Cork hurlers made headway — on and off the field — with a similar stance a few years ago but now the real acid test is about to arrive and neither side shows any sign of blinking.

The ramifications if Cork fail to yield for their opening national league match against Meath on Saturday week will be enormous . . . and it will be very difficult to pick winners out of that mess. Both parties would have felt they had a case but now this has moved so far down the track that neither side can back off.

Ironically, the impasse which has arisen is probably going to be put paid to the controversial grants scheme thrashed out before Christmas.

As GAA administrators increasingly realise, implementing the scheme is going to be very difficult and while the GPA could claim a victory of sorts before Christmas, they too might appreciate delaying it until a proper system can be thought up might be the most prudent course of action.

Perfect Setting

One of the better decisions taken in recent years by the Connacht Council and Galway Football Board has been to take FBD matches to Connemara.

Last year the Micheal Breathnach's facility in Inverin was the venue and on Sunday An Spideal had the honour of hosting the Galway senior football team for the first time.

And they certainly rolled out the red carpet to welcome the footballers of GMIT and Galway but whatever they did off the field, it was the great condition of their playing surface that was the biggest compliment to the teams.

Given the weather that preceded Sunday's game for several days, it must have taken some effort to have it in such wonderful condition. Full marks to all involved.