Kildare were dead right on Newbridge stand-off

THE Round Three All Ireland qualifier draw took place live on national radio last Monday morning with the standout fixture being Kildare against Mayo.

The Lilywhites were first out of the hat so Cian O Neill and his players immediately began preparations for a home tie in Newbridge five days later.

However the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) informed Kildare that in the interest of ‘health and safety’ and to accommodate supporters of both counties, St Conleths Park capacity was not adequate for the anticipated crowd.

The Kildare County Board were asked to nominate an alternative ‘home’ venue, possibly Navan, Tullamore or Portlaoise.

Kildare declined the offer so the CCCC took matters in their own hand and organised the fixture as part of a double header with Cavan and Tyrone in Croker Park on Saturday evening at 7pm.

Both games were also confirmed as Sky Sports live weekend games and tickets were made available at the usual ticketing outlets. Kildare County Boards management committee then released a statement saying they would not be fulfilling the fixture at Croke Park and manager Cian O Neill appeared live on RTE’s Six-One News saying the Kildare squad would be turning up to in Newbridge and nowhere else.

The ‘Newbridge or Nowhere’ standoff had begun.

The GAA’s director of games administration Fergal McGill tried to ride roughshod over the situation and said they would not be budging on their decision.

‘The game is fixed for Croke Park and that is not going to change under any circumstances’ McGill decreed. ‘There is no room for manoeuvre when it comes to health and safety.

The ship has sailed. If Kildare don’t show up in Croke Park at 7pm on Saturday, the game will be awarded to Mayo’ continued McGill.

Public opinion and social media reacted firmly in support of Kildare’s right to host the game in Newbrdge. My own thoughts were enough is enough - this is a step too far.

This ‘decree from on high’ clearly demonstrates the those in power in the corridors of Croke Park have lost touch with the organisation at grass roots level. This decision typifies the direction the GAA has taken in recent years.

Elitism and commercialism now appear to be the main drivers of the organisation. One high profile commentator went as far as calling Croke Park the new enemy of the GAA family.

I’ve no connections with Kildare but I felt compelled to send an email of support to the Kildare County Board. They were doing the right thing.

Seldom has a single issue galvanised virtually every county across the four provinces. What we saw last week was not so much a wave of sympathy for Kildare but more a dam burst of frustration from ordinary GAA people who feel disconnected from important decision that affect them.

I listened in bewilderment as CCCC chairman Ned Quinn and GAA Communication Director Alan Milton tried to explain the rationale behind the decision. Was Quinn for real? To prevent crowd trouble? Who did they think they were trying to cod?

Even when the GAA made the correct U-turn there was absolutely no acknowledgement that their original decision was a mistake. The GAA misjudged the public mood.

They expected Kildare to fall in line and obey the order. But they were taken aback and shocked at the ferocity of the reaction around the country. It could have been a very messy week for all parties but thankfully commonsense prevailed.

The ‘Newbridge or Nowhere’ standoff might just have influenced the long term direction of the GAA.

Getting back to the game of football, Kildare were 100% vindicated in their decision as they played out of their skins on Saturday evening in Newbridge to beat a gallant Mayo team by 0-21 to 0-19.

I’ve no doubt Mayo would have beaten Cian O Neills men in their more familiar surroundings of Croke Park.