Déise skipper threatens boycott in seeding row

Waterford football captain Shane Briggs insists they will join Limerick, Tipperary and Clare in walking away from the 2015 Munster championship if the seeded draw remains in place.

Players from the four counties boycotted yesterday’s Munster launch at King John’s Castle in Limerick.

Speaking with WLR FM yesterday, Briggs stated: “It’s another show of solidarity against the scrapping of the open draw in Munster. We have all decided that we are not going to participate in any advertising for the Munster championship as long as Cork and Kerry are seeded.”

Tipperary football coach Michael McGeehan believes Munster championship seeding was reintroduced to bolster Cork and Kerry’s All-Ireland prospects.

The seeded draw, agreed last September, sees Cork and Kerry enter the provincial championship at the semi-final stage and on opposite sides of the draw, all but ensuring a traditional derby final. McGeehan says unless the scalp of either side is taken prior to the Munster decider, their places in last 12 of the All-Ireland championship is guaranteed.

“This system is weighted towards them,” he said.

“If either are beaten, it ensures they enter the qualifiers at a very late stage. That’s not right. It’s not fair.”