O’Neill: Munster counties ‘swung’ provincial vote

GAA president Liam O’Neill admits the influence of Munster’s Liam MacCarthy Cup counties swung Saturday’s Central Council vote in favour of the Central Competitions Control Committee’s All-Ireland SHC proposal.

The recommendation to retain the Munster SHC in its current form was strongly favoured by the five counties compared to the Hurling Development Committee system, which was to play out the two provincial competitions on a home and away basis.

“The fact of the matter is, it would be a brave man that would dilute the Munster championship,” said O’Neill. “That’s what swung it in the end — the Munster counties were not going to allow that. That was the big change in the voting from the last time.”