‘Munster Final a treasure’

A CHAMPIONS League-type format for the GAA championships is a non-runner, according to Donie Nealon, who bows out after 26 years as secretary of the Munster Council this season.

Nealon, who may be the only man in Semple Stadium tomorrow unable to watch the Munster final, is passionate about the provincial system being retained. But he accepts that the GAA can never return to the old knock-out format for the Championship.

What he favours is a retention of the current qualifier system, with certain modifications forcing counties to play six days after losing in the provincial championship is very unfair, he maintains.