GAA chiefs’ replay vote fury

THE potential for provincial councils to bump up gate receipts was the key reason behind the GAA Congress vote to reintroduce replays for all provincial championship games and All-Ireland quarter-finals, according to Director-General Páraic Duffy.

The Wexford and Kildare joint-proposal won 69% of delegates’ support (174 votes to 80) in Mullingar.

The decision has the capability to create a major fixtures headache for the GAA from next year on, a point which both Duffy and GAA President Christy Cooney expanded on in a press briefing. Duffy understood the reasons behind the decision. “Provincial councils obviously wanted it financially,” said the Monaghan man.