Spillane blames GAA for Setanta’s defection

LEGENDARY Kerry footballer turned GAA pundit Pat Spillane has criticised the GAA for failing to promote and market their games, and he sees the loss of Cork sensation Setanta Ó hAilpín to Australian Rules as a glaring error.

“Setanta was left go far too easy,” said Spillane. “It’s obvious that he wants to be a professional sportsman and fair play to him for that, but why couldn’t the GAA facilitate him and ensure he wasn’t lost to hurling.

“Ó hAilpín was the talk of the country in 2003. Here was a player who could do untold good for the image of hurling, yet he has been allowed to slip away.