Kelly: I wasn’t able to see Rules incidents clearly

GAA PRESIDENT Sean Kelly explained yesterday why he did not condemn foul play by Australia in the second International Rules test more strongly.

Speaking after the Martin Donnelly Interprovincial Hurling final in Boston, Kelly explained that he had not seen some of the incidents clearly before being interviewed by RTÉ immediately after the game. Many Irish fans were dissatisfied with the conciliatory tone of his comments in the interview but Kelly says now that had he seen the incidents clearly he would have spoken out.

“I did that interview immediately after the match was over and had to leave my seat early, which was a long way away from the action anyway,” said Kelly. “It was an oval pitch, a long way down, so I missed some of the things that happened.