Clare and Wexford ponder boycott of relegation decider

GAA CHIEFS were last night faced with the nightmare scenario of Clare and Wexford players boycotting tomorrow’s All-Ireland SHC relegation playoff.

Both panels met last night to discuss their options but sources have revealed a growing air of militancy within the respective camps.

Clare captain Brian O’Connell admitted that the prospect of fighting relegation “doesn’t make any sense” while manager Mike McNamara has described the playoffs as a “fiasco”.

McNamara also revealed that he only became aware of their existence minutes after exiting the championship to Galway.

O’Connell said: “I don’t know what the story is. It doesn’t make any sense to us at all, especially when they’re trying to promote the game. It just seems to me that the GAA make up rules as they go along and hope that the worst case scenario doesn’t happen.”

Clare and Wexford players have been in close contact in recent days while Croke Park top brass have held firm during a series of meetings. The GAA remain determined to go ahead with the playoffs, despite opposition from the four counties involved.

Offaly and Antrim are due to meet in Parnell Park at 3pm tomorrow but the feeling of anger is far stronger in Clare and Wexford, who are due to lock horns in Portlaoise at 5pm. Wexford captain Diarmuid Lyng expressed the view that relegation could “kill” hurling in the county, as they struggle to compete with Gaelic Football and soccer.

Croke Park have issued the directive while county boards are trying to find a way out, if possible, while also aware that failing to fulfil the fixtures could result in them being thrown out of next year’s championship in any case.

McNamara said: “I’ve been instructed by the county board to present a team in Portlaoise at 5pm to represent Clare under the rules of the Association.

“I don’t see any way out of that and I must do the job that I have been entrusted to do by Clare county board.”

McNamara revealed that he has not called his players together collectively since Clare exited the championship against Galway on July 11. He said: “Training sessions have to be organised and focussed but what’s the point with no focus?

“We don’t mind fighting a relegation battle if it was a proper thing but quite frankly, I knew nothing about this, and I’m good to keep up with things.

“I was thanking the players for their efforts during the year but I got a nudge saying that there’s a relegation battle.

“I asked (secretary) Pat Fitz if this was true and he got it confirmed.

“The whole thing is a fiasco and anybody with a shred of common sense would have shoved it back and if we have to have it next year, have it above board and up front.

“They have to restructure the championship because we’re now in this situation after playing Tipperary and Galway while other clashes wouldn’t compare at all.”

McNamara, meanwhile, has insisted that he will remain in charge of Banner County in 2010 “while it is in the interests of Clare hurling”.