Ratoath's Eamonn Wallace will be in action for Meath in the Leinster MFC quarter-final against Offaly on Saturday at O'Connor Park, Tullamore. Other young players from clubs along the Meath-Dublin border have been targeted by clubs in the capital.

Dublin clubs target top young Meath players

Published: Wed 16 May 2012, 5:00 PM

Some Dublin GAA clubs are targeting top young players from Meath and seeking to obtain transfers for them it emerged at Monday night's Meath GAA Co Board meeting in Navan. The matter is now with Leinster Council who have instructed Dublin GAA Co Board to launch an investigation into transfers that were sought by Castleknock football and hurling club for players from Dunboyne It appears that a number of Dublin GAA clubs have targeted top young players from Meath in the 14-16-year-old age group. Apart from Dunboyne, clubs like Dunshaughlin, Kilbride, Ratoath, Donaghmore/Ashbourne, Curraha and St Vincent's could face problems due to their proximity to some of the top Dublin clubs. Meath's Leinster Council delegate Brian Carberry told the meeting that Dublin GAA Co Board had pledged to investigate the matter. "Leinster Council have instructed Dublin to check this out and the Dublin Co Board have confirmed that they will delve into what is happening with the Castleknock club in relation to encroachment into Meath for players," stated Carberry, a St Vincent's clubman. The Ardcath club shares a border with Dublin, but the current problem appears to focus on players from Dunboyne according to Dunboyne delegate John Reilly. The Dunboyne delegate explained brief details at Monday night's meeting. "As far as I am aware there are some young footballers on Dublin squads at the moment who are playing club football in Meath," stated Reilly. Efforts by the Meath Chronicle to contact Dublin Co Board on Tuesday morning were unsuccessful. Leinster Council are also considering some changes to the O'Byrne Cup according to Carberry in his report on Monday night. Carberry confirmed that a discussion took place regarding the participation of third level colleges and they will be retained for next year. However, there is a proposal to start the 2013 O'Byrne Cup in December of this year with a midweek game also scheduled for January. There will also be a review of the VEC inter-county competitions and a report will be circulated to all counties as soon as the process is completed.