Harte gets with the programme

OF ALL the claims that could be made about Mickey Harte in the run-up to the All-Ireland football final, the one holding least water is the accusation he was engaging in a spot of ‘silly buggers’ with the announcement of the 30-man panel.

Leaving Stephen O’Neill off the 30-man squad for the programme was an inevitable piece of housekeeping, if you think about it.

Harte was bound by the requirement to name only 30 players for the match programme. The programme is largely a cosmetic item, but, for, say, an existing No. 30, inclusion therein is an important matter.