Wexford chairman: 'I don’t think we’ll ever see hurling quarter-finals in these slots again nor should we'

Thurles will host a double header of All-Ireland quarter-finals on Saturday afternoon. 

SATURDAY'S ALRIGHT...: FBD Semple Stadium will host the All-Ireland quarter-final double header this weekend. Pic: INPHO/Tom Maher

Wexford chairman Micheál Martin has predicted the All-Ireland senior hurling quarter-finals will never be played again in early Saturday afternoon slots after this year.

Martin envisages this weekend’s Cork-Dublin and Clare-Wexford games in Thurles will be the last organised for 1.15pm and 3.15pm throw-in times. It’s the second time in three years that the matches have been staged early to mid-Saturday afternoon.

An 11th-hour attempt to flip the games to late afternoon times on Sunday and the Tailteannn Cup semi-finals to be brought forward narrowly failed at a special Central Council meeting on Sunday.

Wexford had put forward a proposal to switch the fixtures as it clashed with their hosting of Féile na nGael this Saturday. Last month, they requested the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) move their All-Ireland quarter-final from June 22 in the event they qualified for it. That was confirmed with Saturday’s win over Laois.

When it appeared the CCCC were not willing to do so, GAA president Jarlath Burns took up the mantle and convened the Ard Chomhairle gathering. Because of RTÉ’s tight scheduling this weekend, the only way Wexford’s game could be changed to Sunday was it and the Cork-Dublin clash swapping places with the Down-Sligo and Antrim-Laois Tailteann Cup semi-finals.

Martin commended Burns for doing so and believes the president's action will have an impact next season and beyond. The Wexford chair also expressed surprise at strong hurling counties opposing the proposal to flip the games.

“The vote is the vote,” says Martin. “We would totally respect the position the Tailteann Cup counties involved took and once it became an issue for them you have four counties making a strong case for not moving their fixtures.

“There are counties who are predominantly football and those that are predominantly hurling and we would be aware of one or two predominantly hurling counties who didn’t support the position which would be surprising but that’s democracy.

“You have to respect the vote and give huge respect to the Uachtarán for raising this matter. We flagged this issue to CCCC on May 27 and did so respectfully because we weren’t yet in a preliminary quarter-final.

“As time went on that CCCC weren’t willing to make a judgement, we escalated it to the Uachtarán who in turn received further feedback in Munster and Leinster last week that the slots for the hurling quarter-finals weren’t in the best interests of promoting hurling.

“The Uachtarán led that discussion. Obviously, people weren’t aware of a potential rugby game, TV slots being curtailed by rugby and soccer so there was a huge amount in the mix.

“In fairness, I do think the debate Jarlath has started will have an impact into next year in that I don’t think we’ll ever see hurling quarter-finals in these slots again nor should we.

“Notwithstanding some hurling counties not supporting the request, I don’t think everybody will say at the end of this season that the never want this to happen again.” Martin can’t put a figure on how many supporters will miss out on going to Thurles on Saturday because they will be volunteering at Féile na nGael. He estimates had the quarter-finals taken place on Sunday, FBD Semple Stadium would be close to, if not a sell-out but doesn’t see that happening the day before.

“It is unfortunate that the debate became a hurling versus football debate but we believe our request was a reasonable one in that we have a huge number of people who will not even get to see the games on TV due to their voluntary commitment to hosting teams from every county in Ireland as well as the UK and USA.

“The people I feel most sorry for are those who sit on our committees and spent Monday nights planning and preparing for Féile and now probably won’t even get to see our game. It does have a major impact on the grassroots.

“While we are disappointed that the clash with Féile is occurring, we are delighted to be still in the hurling championship and we will bring a big crowd to support the team as always.

“In order to further promote the games among our youngest supporters, we are also running an initiative of subsidising the cost of a bus for any club who are bringing their underage teams to the game.” 

In his role as national games development chairman, Martin along with hurling development chairman Terry Reilly wants to see the All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals be made into “a festival of hurling because there is a greater potential for rotation of teams involving in them”.

Martin adds: “Hurling is an UNESCO-recognised sport. If you were to explain to them this weekend that we’re promoting hurling this weekend, I think they’d be scratching their heads.”