"I've no idea how the word got around, to be honest, " O'Connor declared. "I think it's just one of those rumours that grows legs." O'Connor is currently involved at underage level with his home club St Martin's and has no immediate plans to work at a higher level.

Interviews for the Director of Hurling job are likely to begin in the second half of March.

Meanwhile, GAA's Central Council yesterday decided that there would be no increase in championship ticket prices for 2006, which keeps the cost at 2004 levels.

The Council also approved the payment of an extra 1 million to the Player's Injury Fund to avoid the necessity of any increase in contributions from clubs. The payment is in addition to the 6% of gross gates already payable to the fund and means that Central Council will contribute in the region of 2.35m to the fund in 2006.

In the area of team expenses, it was decided, independently of counties' own expenditure, to make 2.6m available this year.

Elsewhere, DCU and Mayo forward Conor Mortimer could be in trouble with Higher Education Authority football chiefs after he was photographed giving rival UCC fans a two-fingered gesture during their Sigerson Cup semi-final match on Friday.

Mortimer was clearly seen giving the salute but was able to line out in last night's final against Queen's at Parnell Park.

Match referee David Coldrick (Meath) says he didn't see the incident and stated that "it won't be included in my match report".

GAA PRO Danny Lynch says any disciplinary action to be taken was a "matter for the Higher Education Authority and the Central Disciplinary Committee.

"No official comment will be made until the referee's report has been submitted and the circumstances of the incident are examined."