Galway set for full Leinster integration

The Leinster Council will vote tonight on whether to allow Galway’s minor and U21 hurling teams into the province.

Galway’s seniors joined Leinster back in 2009, and board chairman Noel Treacy, secretary John Hynes and treasurer Bernie O’Connor expressed a strong desire to see the westerners move “lock, stock, and barrel” into Leinster at last month’s provincial council meeting.

Delegates are expected to give the green light to full Galway integration in the province, ending the long-standing tradition of county’s minor and U21 teams advancing directly to the knockout stages of the respective championships.

Treacy says full Leinster integration “is in the best interests of the county”. However, the demand of Galway top-brass for a seat on the Leinster Council was unanimously shot down at the October meeting.

“28 people will have a vote on the Galway matter, two delegates from each of the 12 counties along with the Leinster chairman, secretary, vice-chairman and treasurer,” explained council chairman John Horan.

“Galway will not be giving a second presentation before the vote, they will not be present. At last month’s meeting, one delegate just said he hadn’t got clearance from his county on what way to vote, and the fact that there would be a delay of only a month, we decided to allow it.

“If the delegates want to discuss the issue before they cast their vote, they are more than entitled to. There won’t be any problem in that regard.”

Meanwhile, Kerry’s application to join the Leinster minor hurling league is to be discussed at tonight’s meeting.

Kerry officials have written to Leinster officials requesting entry to the province’s minor hurling league, a competition that already includes Antrim and Down, Horan revealed yesterday.

The Kingdom minors were walloped in the Munster championship, suffering heavy defeats by Cork (5-26 to 0-9) and Clare (6-25 to 0-11).