Galway’s move to Leinster opposed

GALWAY club St May’s Athenry is strongly opposed to the county going into the Leinster championship next year, having unanimously rejected the proposal at a special meeting.

Three-times winners of the AIB club championship in the late 90s, their preference would be for an open draw — involving all of the top hurling teams — but they accept that this would not be agreeable to either the Munster or Leinster Council.

Instead, they favour an arrangement where the Connacht and Ulster winners (if they so wish) would enter the All-Ireland championship at the same stage as the Munster and Leinster runners-up — at the quarter-final stage.

They claim that this proposal would raise the profile of hurling in the county, explaining: “It is far more advantageous for Galway to be ‘guaranteed’ a quarter-final place (rather) than getting a second chance.

“It provides a challenge for players and team officials and would have wide public appeal among supporters. Other counties will be guaranteed a second chance and can hardly complain about Galway’s position.

“The second chance is only fair if implemented at the same level for all participants, but this is not possible due to lack of competition in Connacht.’’

Athenry also argue that the present formats which apply in hurling and football have serious flaws in that they favour the stronger counties.

“Having an open draw in Munster and Leinster and giving a ‘second chance’ to teams beaten in their first game would be far better for all counties.’’

They also state that the proposal going before the Special Congress next month is ‘the worst possible option for Galway to take.’

“There is no incentive for Galway players to win a Leinster title and worst of all to know that their opponents continue to remain in the All-Ireland championship.

“The all or nothing attitude that was once the hallmark of our senior team is now replaced by a false comfort zone for players and the soft option for officialdom.’’

They are also critical to recent changes made in the county hurling champions, pointing out that the new format does not give county players any test of their form or competitiveness.