Attacks on Kelly unfair, say former presidents

FORMER presidents of the GAA have criticised those who personalized their attacks on Sean Kelly over the opening of Croke Park to other sports.

A number of Cork delegates directed scathing comments towards current president Kelly at last Sunday’s convention for ‘espousing’ personal views on making GAA headquarters available to soccer and rugby.

“I myself have one major problem. I would not let anybody into the car park, not to mention into Croke Park,” blasted Munster Council treasurer Dan Hoare while John Corcoran from St. Mary’s, Ballineen said: “The president does not deserve the respect of ordinary gaels.”

The nature of the comments yesterday evoked a stinging response from former president Dr Mick Loftus.

“I thought what was said in Cork, especially with regards to comments about not allowing people into the car park, was most unfair. Some of what was said was unbecoming of the grassroots of the GAA,” said Dr Loftus.

“It is the first time I have heard comments such as this. As a former GAA president, people would have expressed other points of view but nothing to compare with some of the comments made at the Cork convention last weekend.

“I can see the logical point of view that there are concerns that this is the man who will ultimately be chairing the debate on Croke Park and they feel that he should be neutral on the matter. But they could have expressed their concerns differently.”

Dr Loftus, as a former president of the GAA, will have a vote on the matter at next year’s Congress in Killarney. He declined to say whether he will vote to change Rule 42 but he did

admitted to having concerns about the alcohol sponsorship which could be attached to other sports using Croke Park.

Sean Kelly remained was upbeat yesterday after a torrid few days week of criticism.

“I got a number of messages over the last two days, from people who were irked at the tone of the criticism,” he disclosed last evening.

“Basically, what they were saying was that I should not worry, that it was par for the job. You’d always appreciate messages like that and I do.”

Interestingly, he admitted that he had got a few calls from Cork from people disassociating themselves from the remarks.”

Mr Kelly repeated that the criticism didn’t hurt him ‘one bit.’

“If you’re in this job and you’re worried what fellows are going to say about you or what they think about you, then you have no business being there. I’m independent-minded, I speak my mind independently, I think independently. I do what I think is right and what is best for the Association.”

Meanwhile, one former holder of the office, who did wish to be named, said there was surprise within the membership at the personal nature of the criticism directed at Mr Kelly at the Cork convention. He made the point that it was the first time ‘in living memory’ that a President had been criticised publicly.

“I have been at various meetings, where things would be said about what a president might be doing or saying, but it never broke into the public domain. What happened (in Cork) was most unusual in that respect.”

Saying that he didn’t want to give the impression that a President ‘was above criticism,’ he added: “the GAA has a tradition of fighting its own battles behind closed doors. While you might disagree with a president at a meeting, that would be that. You would never dare criticise him in public.

“You would hold the office in too much esteem. That has always been paramount within the Association.”

Mr Kelly said that as far as he was concerned, it was a closed issue at this stage, that he was more concerned about other on-going matters.

Meanwhile, twice time Hurler of the Year, Brian Corcoran, is contemplating a return to the game, at club level.

“I have been approached,” confirmed the 30-year-old Erins Own clubman . “But I am definitely making no decision until the New Year.”

“I have been out of hurling for two and a half years. That is a long time and it must be taken into consideration. It’s a big decision.”

Corcoran was named Hurler of the Year in 1992 and 1999. He also won Allstars in those years.

Corcoran last played for his club was in the 2001 SHC against UCC, the side Erins Own have been drawn against in next year’s championship.