Cork’s stance will not change anything

CORK’S stance on Rule 42 will not “queer the pitch” for Saturday’s Congress debate on the opening up of Croke Park, leading GAA officials insisted last night.

The general reaction to the decision taken by the Cork Board on Tuesday was that it will have no bearing on how the debate will be conducted.

Cork officials claimed that annual convention was the only permissible forum for decisions on rule change "The correct procedure is for county convention to decide on such a fundamental policy issue or to seek to mandate the Congress delegates contrary to what was a clear opinion at Congress 2003," a Board statement said.

One former high-ranking officer expressed the view that possibly some counties may have transgressed rules by not seeking a two-thirds majority in votes taken in support of opening up Croke Park most, if not all of which appear to have been heavily influenced by the 'temporary' opening of the stadium while Lansdowne Road is being redeveloped.

"I would not question what Cork did. It was their decision to maintain the status quo," he commented.

Prominent 'pro' campaigner Noel Walsh differed. He described Cork's decision as 'incredible.' "I couldn't see them trying to question the way other counties decided on their mandate,'' he said.

Another respected source, who did not wish to be quoted, also questioned Cork's decision. "Are Cork right and all the other counties wrong! That's nonsense,'' he said.

With Walsh expressing the view that the eventual vote will be 'very tight,' one prominent official expressed serious concern about the Rule 42 motions failing in such circumstances.

"I would be fearful of a narrow defeat, where a decision would be at odds with the majority of members if 60% of delegates vote in favour and it does not get the necessary two-thirds majority."

He made it clear that he only favoured a temporary opening and was influenced in his thinking by the 'national interest,' of the potential loss to the Irish economy from 'home' internationals being played overseas.

Noel Walsh agrees that the votes of Central Council delegates could prove crucial, if such delegates representing counties which were in favour of opening up Croke Park did not vote according to the way the clubs had decided. "I can't see how that would be tolerated,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Kilkenny chairman, Ned Quinn, has no worries about the way Cork conducted their business but said he could not see any obstacle to counties voting according to the way their clubs had mandated them to.

"We advised our clubs at a previous County Board meeting that we would be voting on all the motions going forward to the next meeting, which was last Monday night. Clubs had their own meetings and as far as we are concerned that is the way we will vote on every motion going to Congress.

"We got their views on all motions, not just on Rule 42," he said pointing out that all of their clubs junior, intermediate and senior were represented on the County Board.