Munster Council to consider requests for reversal of seeding

The Munster Council has said that it will consider any requests from counties seeking to reverse the decision to reintroduce seeding for the province’s senior football championship.

Last week’s decision by the provincial council to put Cork and Kerry straight into semi-finals on opposite sides of the draw has met with criticism from the other four counties, and on Tuesday night, nine players from the four counties — Gary Brennan, Gordon Kelly and Joe Hayes (Clare), Stephen Kelly and Seanie Buckley (Limerick), George Hannigan and Brian Fox (Tipperary) and Shane Briggs (Waterford) – met in Tipperary town to formulate a response.

Following the meeting, letters were written to each of the four counties asking them to look for an emergency council meeting, and Munster PRO Ed Donnelly has stated that that any such entreaties will be dealt with.

“We have received a request from one county so far,” he said.

“It’s a matter that would come under consideration by the executive, and then it would be a case of arranging a meeting of the full council.

“As it stands, that probably wouldn’t be until next week at this stage, as it takes a while to arrange a meeting.

“The issue will definitely be discussed by the officer board, though. It’s something that we should know more about in the next few days.”

Limerick, who proposed the motion to reinstate seeding at a meeting of the council’s Competitions Control Committee last week, are unlikely to hold a county board meeting with a view to seeking a reversal, however.

“We only received the letter today,” said county secretary Michael O’Riordan, “so we’ll have to speak to our own people and see what the situation is. I’d imagine that it would be hard to reverse the seeding decision, as due process was followed. Our next board meeting won’t be until October 8, but we have received the correspondence and it won’t be ignored.”

Meanwhile, former Mayo midfielder Liam McHale – who coached Clare during Michael McDermott’s time in charge – said that it was a “no-brainer” to have seeding in the province.

“I was at the Munster final this past summer,” he said.

“It was a fantastic occasion in Killarney. The year before Clare played Cork and there was 7,000 [actually 9,139] at it. That tells its own story. I think you have to seed it really to have a proper Munster final. If you’re good enough to get through, you do. If you’re not good enough, you’re not.

“There was 35-40,000 in Killarney this year compared to 7,000 last year. It’s a bit ruthless but I think it’s a no-brainer. You have to go with that to get a big provincial final.”