Kelly rejects criticism of timing of games with Australia

GAA PRESIDENT Sean Kelly last night rejected criticism from Ladies football chief Helen O’Rourke on the timing of this year’s International Rules series.

The ladies claim the men’s tests will steal their limelight with the second tests in particular set to clash on the weekend of November 5. Kelly was unapologetic yesterday and stated that both organisations created their own fixtures in isolation.

“Ourselves and the Australians looked at certain dates and we eventually came to settle on the ones we did,” said Mr Kelly. “Nobody told us that it was going to discommode anybody and the GAC obviously couldn’t deal with something they had no prior information about. The ladies are a separate organisation and they negotiated their own deal that we weren’t aware of. We went and spoke to the Australians and made an arrangement that suited.”