Galway delegates say ‘yes’ to Leinster

GALWAY GAA delegates last night gave their backing for their senior hurlers to move into the Leinster championship — despite most of the top officers in the county vehemently opposing it.

Delegates voted in a secret ballot by 66 to 54 to give the plan the green light — even though only two speakers spoke in favour of the proposal during the hour and a quarter debate.

Galway hurling captain David Collins, serving as the Liam Mellows delegate, and Hurling Board secretary John Fahey spoke in favour of moving into Leinster. But the move was strongly opposed by most speakers.

Most of the Galway GAA bosses who spoke in Athenry last night — including Hurling Board chairman Miko Ryan, Central Council delegate Bernie O’Connor and former County Board chairmen Frank Burke and Gerry Cloherty — said they were vehemently opposed to the move.

Former Galway hurling managers Jarlath Cloonan and Matt Murphy led the calls for Galway to give the proposal the boot. Only Galway Hurling Board secretary John Fahey urged delegates to give the green light to the proposal.

Galway captain David Collins said that the move would give them the competitive games necessary for them to bid for the All-Ireland. Collins pleaded with delegates to back the players and allow them go into Leinster.

“I plead with you to give your backing to the players. They voted unanimously to back the move. I am asking you to do the same,” said Collins.

But Central Council delegate Bernie O’Connor, a selector when Galway won the All-Ireland in 1987 and ‘88, said that the county had managed to win three All-Ireland senior titles, nine national leagues, nine U-21s and seven minors in the past 30 years ‘without having to leave our province’.

A lack of representation on the Leinster Council, the impact on Galway club games, the absence of Galway’s Leinster championship games being played in Galway, the fact that four Leinster counties are opposed to the move and the lack of financial benefits to Galway were cited as the main reasons by those opposing the plan.

Galway Hurling Board chairman Miko Ryan said that counties around the country were waiting to hear what their views were. “It is time to tell the country we are totally opposed to this plan,” said Ryan.

However, delegates voted by 66-54 to support the proposal and it will now go before the Special Congress in Croke Park on Saturday with the backing of the Tribesmen.

On Sunday the Galway hurling squad came out in unanimous support of the proposal to allow Antrim and Galway compete in Leinster.

At their meeting there was 100% backing for playing in Leinster for a three year trial period. The players felt the competitive games would provide them with the platform of hard championship games they require. The players also felt the 2008 championship model did little for their aspirations as they were the only team in the country to go out after just one loss.