Saffrons cry foul over play-off

Antrim's defeat by Laois appeared to leave them in a relegation play-off

Confusion over Antrim hurlers' immediate Championship future may be clarified by the GAA on Friday.

Antrim are claiming that they should be immune from relegation from the Liam McCarthy Cup because they have been given three years in the Leinster SHC.

However, the Saffrons are scheduled to be involved in a relegation play-off game against Offaly on 25 July.

The GAA's Management Committee is expected to discuss the issue at a meeting on Friday.

The confusion has already led to the scheduled relegation play-offs being delayed from the original dates of this weekend.

Antrim are now pencilled in to face Offaly in one relegation semi-final on 25 July, with the losers playing the losers of the Clare and Wexford clash to decide which team is relegated to the Christy Ring Cup.

Carlow, as winners of the Christy Ring Cup, have been told they will play in next season's Liam McCarthy Cup.

However, that decision may yet be changed after questions over Antrim's status arose.

A GAA Special Congress granted Galway and Antrim spots in the Leinster Championship last October and the general understanding was that the arrangement would run on a trial basis for three years before being reviewed.

Antrim claim they have been given a guarantee of a three-year period in the Liam McCarthy Cup and Leinster Championship in an attempt to improve hurling standards in the northern county.

"The general consensus was that clarification was needed as regards the relegation games," the GAA's Communications Manager Alan Milton said.

"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 Bainisti."