The All-Ireland SHC relegation playoffs will go ahead next Saturday, despite Antrim's insistence that they are exempt from relegation. It follows yesterday's meeting of the GAA's high-powered Management Committee, who confirmed that in accordance with the existing rules of the All-Ireland SHC, the relegation playoffs would take place after all. This means Wexford will play Clare, and Antrim will face Offaly, with the losing teams playing off to determine who will be relegated to the Christy Ring Cup. Times and venues for the games will be finalised by the Central Competitions Control Committee on Monday. This was the ultimate interpretation of the Management Committee into Motion 35 passed at Congress last April, submitted by Westmeath, which stated that the defeated team in the relegation phase of the Liam McCarthy Cup will be relegated to the Christy Ring Cup, while the winner of the Christy Ring Cup gains promotion. This means Carlow, as Christy Ring Cup winners, will be promoted after all, having been told last week that they will play in the Liam McCarthy Cup in 2010. The decision is still likely to draw opposition from all four counties involved, but particularly from Antrim, who had been guaranteed a three-year period in the Leinster championship and Liam McCarthy Cup. Tweet

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