Pat Lambe, the chairman of Kilmacud Crokes, insists the club is acting within its rights by withdrawing two key players from their county panels this weekend.

Brian Kavanagh of Longford and Wexford's Adrian Morrissey will not be available for their respective counties' Allianz National Football League outings on Sunday afternoon.

The pair are key members of the Kilmacud panel which is currently preparing for the All-Ireland senior club football semi-final against Crossmaglen Rangers at the end of the month.

And speaking to Tuesday's Evening Herald, Lambe insisted that the criticism voiced by Longford officials are wide of the mark.

He said, "It's common practice that clubs involved at this stage of the All-Ireland club championship have first call on players and that those players don't play in the early rounds of the National Football League.

"[Dublin manager] Pat Gilroy went to Paddy Carr at Christmas and told him he won't be looking for the Kilmacud lads until after they're finished in this competition and while Jason Ryan would like Adrian Morrissey to play with Wexford, he said he accepted the situation.

"We never make an issue when we lose most our squad for the majority of the year to inter-county teams and it's the only time of year when clubs get first call so we're doing what we feel is best for the club." Tweet

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