Kelly defends GAA’s hurling drink link

GAA President Sean Kelly defended the GAA’s link with Guinness when he spoke at the formal launch of the hurling championship in Croke Park yesterday.

This year marks the 11th year of the sponsorship - renewed in 2000 for five years and last year extended to the end of 2007 - and, in Mr Kelly’s view, the company’s promotion of the championship has helped to revolutionise hurling.

“Since Guinness came on board, we have been constantly looking at ways of developing and progressing and making decisions which 10 and 15 years ago would have been unthinkable,’’ he said.