GAA were ready to give Kerry walkover to All-Ireland final before Kingdom intervention

Marathon talks involving the two counties, All-Ireland finalists Mayo, the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC), GAA president Larry McCarthy, and director general Tom Ryan lasted over seven hours.

A general view of Croke Park. Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Kerry’s willingness to wait a second week to face Tyrone in an All-Ireland semi-final saved the Ulster champions from being dumped out of the Championship.

Sources confirmed to Examiner Sport that the GAA were preparing to hand Kerry a walkover prior to the Kingdom’s intervention. Tyrone had also been resigned to not playing any further part in the competition.