Shannonsiders take a swipe at ‘sloppy’ 2012 NHL plans

LIMERICK GAA officials fired a final shot across the bow of Croke Park hierarchy for their handling of the 2012 Allianz Hurling League restructuring.

Speaking at yesterday’s Limerick GAA Annual Convention in his native Tournafulla, Limerick GAA chairman Liam Lenihan described the whole affair as “sloppy”.

“The handling, by Croke Park, of the format for the Allianz Hurling Leagues for 2012 was very sloppy and was most unsatisfactory from a Limerick point of view,” said Lenihan. “Hopefully at national level, lessons have been learned.”

Secretary Mike O’Riordan called for the setting up of a committee to constantly review the structures of the league.

“I would suggest that a committee would be set up to review the league on an ongoing basis for its duration, and that any proposal for change would come before the commencement of the final year in the current league cycle,” he said.

“It is very disappointing having commenced the league at the start of the year and, winning it to earn promotion, only to be relegated at the stroke of a pen. We as a county took a stand against what we believed to be an injustice done to us, even though some members from other counties felt we were bringing the association into disrepute.”

The chairman used his address to announce a new Football Development Committee. They will formulate a plan to “greatly improve football at underage level”.

He added the ongoing underage hurling plan was going to “change the face of Limerick hurling”.