Galway chiefs set to lodge league final objection

GALWAY GAA officials were last night meeting to lodge an objection to the proposed 7pm start to their Allianz NHL showdown with Cork in Thurles on the Sunday of the May Bank Holiday.

Galway Hurling Board chairman Joe Byrne admitted he was ‘gobsmacked’ when he heard that the game was taking place at that time of the evening.

He welcomed the fact that the game would not clash directly with Munster’s Heineken Cup semi-final away to Biarritz – although he wondered why the league final was fixed before they knew when Connacht’s European semi-final was on.

However he felt their decider with Cork should have been moved to the Bank Holiday Monday.

“An earlier start on Sunday is one option but we feel it should be just moved to Monday and we will be making every effort in the coming days to ensure that common sense prevails,” he said.

Byrne said that his primary objection to the 7pm throw-in in Thurles was its unattractiveness to followers, especially parents who wanted to bring children.

“We have put a huge effort this year into promoting the game with children and making the link between them and the flagship team in the county, the senior hurlers.

“We have put schemes in place to encourage parents to bring their children along – they all now go on the pitch for a few pucks at half-time during a league match in Pearse Stadium, there are autograph sessions with players, free jersey offers and so on. But now, having reached the final, we find that it would be around midnight before they are back home from Thurles.

“That certainly does not encourage parents to bring young children.

“Putting the match on at that hour is a kick in the backside to all the efforts to involve the children right through the league campaign.

“Why on earth are we making it so unattractive to supporters, especially parents, when we should be doing the opposite.

“We should ensure that the second biggest hurling final of the year is on at a time that encourages people to attend,” he said.

Byrne added that extra-time could happen in either or both games (the Division One decider is preceded by the Division Two final) and this would lead to an even later finish at Semple Stadium.

“We will be seeking to have the match changed and we believe that if we make the case then commonsense will prevail,” added the Kinvara clubman ahead of last night’s meeting of Galway Hurling Board.