Cork GAA schools committee hits out at 'drastically slashed' hurling final ticket allocation

Cork GAA's post-primary schools committee said in their report to the county convention that there were many "frustrated teachers" who did not receive All-Ireland hurling final tickets

The committee asked that their allocation for the next All-Ireland final reached by Cork be restored to the number of previous years. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Cork GAA's post-primary schools committee has hit out at the county board executive over the “drastically slashed” ticket allocation they received before this year’s All-Ireland hurling final.

In their report to Tuesday’s Cork convention, the Cork post-primary schools committee described as “disappointing” the number of tickets they were given by the board executive ahead of the county’s All-Ireland final clash with Tipp.

They also called for their allocation to be restored to what it was for previous Cork hurling final appearances the next time the county reaches the concluding Sunday of championship fare.

“Traditionally we would have received an allocation that allowed us to make two tickets available to our affiliated schools. However, our allocation was drastically slashed, and this was greeted by a lot of frustrated teachers who give up a massive amount of time to promote hurling and football within Cork and who, unfortunately, did not secure a ticket for the final. We politely ask for this allocation to be restored upon Cork qualifying for another All-Ireland final,” read the report of the Cork post-primary committee.

Elsewhere across the various sub-committee reports included in the Cork convention booklet, Cork GAA’s juvenile wing, Rebel Óg, lamented the increasing trend of mentors, supporters, and parents “abusing” referees at juvenile games.

“A rising problem in recent times and continues to be a worrying trend and something that must be removed from our game is the abuse of referees from sidelines. A lot of our disciplinary matters involved mentors, supporters and parents, rather than players, abusing referees at juvenile games, and this trend must stop,” said the Rebel Óg report to convention.

“We should be setting examples to our young players, not have adults on the sidelines roaring and shouting abuse at our referees. It also influences recruitment of new referees.

“Some clubs have introduced a system where the mentor/parent/supporter who is fined for abuse of referees must pay the cost of the fine themselves, as the clubs needs the much-needed funds raised for coaching, jerseys, sliotars balls etc during the year.” 

These remarks chimed with the sentiments expressed by Cork GAA referees administrator Jim McEvoy.

“Unfortunately, outside interference targeting officials, including umpires, remains a concern. Clubs continue to protect those responsible; they must be held accountable for their members’ actions and so-called supporters. I seldom hear of a club suspending individuals,” McEvoy wrote.