GAA rues fixture debacle

GAA President Nickey Brennan last night apologised for last’s weekend fixture debacle.

Crowds at the NFL finals, and NHL semi-finals were down on previous years on a day when Munster and Leinster clashed in the high-profile European Heineken Cup semi final at Lansdowne Road.

Brennan said: “The first thing I want to say is to apologise for last weekend. I appreciate that events took on a life of their own and we had difficulties with fixtures. In fairness to Allianz, decisions had to be made that maybe weren’t entirely suitable to Allianz themselves, but I do appreciate that they understood the position we were in.