The much-publicised Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) hearing involving the case of Dublin's Johnny McCaffrey "nally concluded in the early hours of yesterday morning as the committee ruled not to uphold the UCD student's appeal against the ruling of his ineligibility to play for his college.

The case for the appeal was based on the issue that McCaffrey is deemed to be a part-time student in his diploma course in Sports Management at UCD by the Central Appeals Committee (CAC). However, only fulltime students can play for their respective colleges.

UCD's Dave Billings was disappointed by the ruling.

"I'd maintain that Johnny is a full-time student, but we're GAA members so we have to accept the decision ."

The three-month suspensions of DCU students Ross Munnelly, Dessie Dolan, Shane Ryan and Diarmuid Kinsella will not be affected.

O'LOUGHLIN BEGINS SEASON IN AUSTRALIA

On Tuesday the new cycling season opens with the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under in Australia over seven days. There will be Irish interest in the race with Mayo's David O'Loughlin part of a quality line-up.

O'Loughlin is a member of the Navigators Insurance out"t based in the USA.

"We're looking forward to another season and happy to have Ireland's champion on the squad, " said team manager Ed Beamon.

NAUGHTON MAY HAVE TO STEP DOWN IN MAYO

The GAA in Mayo is in for a turbulent start to the New Year after it emerged that county board chairman Paddy Naughton may be forced to step down after being elected vice-president of the Connacht Council last week.

Initial indications are that the Connacht Council do not permit a vice-president to act as a county board chairman at the same time.

CHICHERIT TAKES PENULTIMATE STAGE

Frenchman Guerlain Chicherit won the penultimate stage of the Dakar Rally by three minutes and 13 seconds from South African Alfie Cox, who was also driving a BMW.

Overall leader Luc Alphand and rival Giniel De Villiers both got lost on the stage, however, Alphand is still on course to take the title.

O'SULLIVAN UPBEAT WITH EDINBURGH RUN

A rejuvenated Sonia O'Sullivan remained upbeat but had to be content with 13th place in the high-quality Great Edinburgh International cross-country at Holyrood Park yesterday.

"That was just what I expected and exactly what I wanted from the race, " said O'Sullivan. "I came here for a hard race and that is exactly what I got." The race was won by 19-year-old Ethiopian Gelete Burika.

Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia won the men's event.

KERR'S LEGACY SOMEWHAT WARPED

Funny how Brian Kerr is getting the blame for all the nation's ills at present. The impression is that the Republic has dropped off the radar in the Fifa rankings, but the reality is we are now 24th, six places below the 18th position he inherited.

Likewise the Stephen Ireland story grows legs as if Kerr had issued an edict to all and sundry never to pick him. What happened at an U16 tournament in Cork was that Kerry didn't include the player in his squad of 18 to play Germany and then picked his eleven before the French match so that he could do set pieces.

At the end of that session the youngster told the manager he wanted to go home, leading to the saga that runs and runs. Kerr left "ve months later to take over the senior team, and instead of banishing him forever from green, told those who succeeded him to look at the kid's form and if he was good enough to play him.