Galway not ‘crying out’ to join Leinster, despite Brennan claim

CLAIMS by GAA President Nickey Brennan that players and managers in Galway are ‘crying out’ to participate in the Leinster SHC have been challenged by Athenry officials.

They feel it is misleading to the county’s position in relation to the proposal for an amended senior hurling championship which goes before next Saturday’s Special Congress at HQ.

Athenry, twice winners of the All-Ireland club championship, also feel that Brennan’s remark about Galway opposition being narrow-minded is not helpful “and is a clear sign that the reasons given by him to support the proposals are not good enough.”

In a statement issued through Jarlath Cloonan (former Galway manager), they point out that a meeting of club delegates earlier in the year favoured an open draw as opposed to taking part in the Leinster championship. “Knowing that the open draw option would be rejected, it was agreed by the delegates that the County Board would put forward two proposals for consideration by the Hurling Development Committee,’’ he added.

“The Galway club delegates were also informed that more than one proposal would be made by the Hurling Development Committee.

“It was also clearly expressed by GAA officials that Galway would not be coerced or pressured into accepting any proposal without the county’s support. Galway clubs are now being asked to vote again for a ‘proposal’ already rejected by them and, if they decide against, will be forced into Leinster should delegates to Congress vote for the new proposal.

“The President is asking Galway ‘for the greater good of hurling’ to prop up a Leinster Championship that in his own words hasn’t been performing. He asks counties to ‘asses the proposals in the interests of the game overall’ and he fails to acknowledge or address, in a meaningful way the arguments against the proposal in relation to Galway.’’