O’Neill avoids sideline sideshow

GAA President Liam O’Neill won’t be drawn into a war of words with Kilkenny on the sideline regulations issue.

The All-Ireland hurling champions have reacted strongest to the new rule limiting the amount of non-playing personnel on the sideline to five during games.

Cats selector Martin Fogarty claimed it doesn’t take into account the unique demands of hurling and, homing in on O’Neill, said he was “very disappointed with the Uachtaran” whom he claimed, “appears to be sticking in the boot at every opportunity”.

Speaking at yesterday’s launch of the gaelicboots.com website, O’Neill refused to get embroiled in a head to head.

“There have been huge attempts to get me involved in this, this is a non issue for me,” said O’Neill. “It has been dealt with.”

The Laois man said there is no possibility of the rule being revisited, meaning waterboys will have to double up as hurley carriers.

“There are no grounds on which it can (be revisited),” added O’Neill. “The decision has been taken for the year. Those regulations cannot be changed.”