Brennan says fixture crisis no longer tenable

THE ongoing fixtures conflict involving intercounty sides and county boards is no longer tenable, admits GAA President Nickey Brennan.

In his programme notes for Saturday’s All-Ireland Club Final, Brennan invited Association members to contribute to a debate on the implications of the long-running fixtures crisis: “including the availability of county players to their clubs”.

Brennan wrote: “During the coming months, we will be issuing a document dealing with the thorny issue of club and county fixtures, including the availability of county players to their clubs.

“This document will outline many areas of concern and will set out a number of proposals for consideration by county boards and their clubs.”

He added: “Your views are important because the current situation, which is skewed in favour of county sides, is no longer tenable and some changes are essential.”

Meanwhile, the GAA are to consider retaining the extendable awning out over the tunnel in Croke Park.

To comply with a FIFA inspection last week the green awning was installed where the players emerge from the Hogan Stand dressing-rooms, and was still in place last Saturday for the All-Ireland club finals, though only the hurlers of Ballyhale Shamrocks and Loughrea came out through it — the footballers of Dr Crokes and Crossmaglen used the Cusack Stand dressing-rooms.

Croke Park would be the only GAA stadium with the facility, which is standard practice at European soccer grounds. Spectators at last Saturday’s double-header also got to see the newly installed bucket seating on Hill 16 for Saturday’s European Championship qualifier between Ireland and Wales.