Connolly seeks to clarify flight miss

Thursday, March 29, 2012

By Mike Finnerty

Mayo’s senior hurling manager Murt Connolly has requested a meeting with the County Board executive to explain the circumstances behind the team missing their scheduled flight home from London last weekend.

The squad were forced to pay for new flights home last Sunday after they missed their original flight to Knock airport following their Allianz League Division 2B match against London in Ruislip.

Each member of the travelling party paid for their own flights, believed to have cost €3,600 in total, and it remains unclear if the Mayo Board intends to reimburse some, or all, expenses incurred.

Speaking at a Mayo GAA Board meeting on Tuesday, County Board Hurling Chairman John Hopkins told club delegates Mayo manager Murt Connolly wished to speak directly to the executive about it.

“I’m not standing up here to make excuses,” said Hopkins.

“I was there (in London) as the only officer of the Hurling Board and what happened shouldn’t have happened.

“I could go on all night (about it) but the manager has requested that he go in before the executive of the County Board to clarify a few things.

“I think he should be allowed to come in, speak to the executive, and then we would make a report to the next County Board meeting.

“What happened should not have happened.

“But it was no fault of the Mayo County Board.”