COUP DARES WINS!
GAA insists safety & not cash was behind Newbridge fixture fiasco
GAA spokesman Alan Milton insisted yesterday’s embarrassing climbdown in switching Kildare’s Round Three qualifier tie with Mayo to Newbridge was NOT a result of appeasing public opinion.
The organisation came under heavy fire after the Lilywhites’ qualifier tie with Mayo on Sunday was fixed for Croke Park in a double-header with Cavan v Tyrone.
The decision by the CCCC sparked fury in Kildare who demanded their right to play the tie in Newbridge – a wish that was ultimately granted by a redfaced GAA hierarchy yesterday.
But the organisation was keen to stress the decision was taken on safety grounds and batted away suggestions the original call to stage the tie at Headquarters was driven by either money – or an attempt to appease broadcasters.
The GAA statement confirming the about turn attempted to illustrate a change of circumstances in the arrangements around St Conleth’s Park as being behind the change of venue, a narrative also adopted by the GAA’S director of communications Milton on RTE.
“Conversations took place with the Kildare county committee and an Garda Siochana and a different type of plan was put together to facilitate it,” said Milton.
“I think when you look at the figures that have been attending Mayo games in recent weeks, and indeed recent years, and the level of support that they have, I think most people would realise that this fixture would place certain demands on Newbridge that we weren’t comfortable that we would be able to cope with.
“Those conversations have obviously led to a different match-day strategy being put in place.
“Again, we urge people that don’t have tickets – and there will be a shortage of tickets – not to come to Newbridge on Saturday evening because it has the potential to cause unnecessary hassle for people who do have tickets.”
As it is, Sky will broadcast both games live, with Cavantyrone now taking place at Brewster Park at 5pm on Saturday, two hours before Kildare-mayo gets underway at St Conleth’s Park.
While the GAA may have rowed back on the hardline stance taken earlier in the week, there was little in the way of contrition in their utterings yesterday.
Ultimately, the contribution of former DRA secretary Jack Anderson – now based in Australia – appears to have been a significant driver in reaching this resolution.
Anderson believed that Kildare would likely win a legal action if they decided to take one, and that went a long way to diminishing the GAA’S stance earlier this week that the game wouldn’t be shifted “under any circumstances”.
Fortunately for them, they have clearly stated that round four pairings – which will be made known next Monday morning – must be played at neutral venues.
“We’ll return next Monday – the CCCC and all the experience they bring to bear on it, organising games the way they do, I’d like to see this as a one-off,” added Milton.
“If there are lessons to be learned, they’ll have been learned and taken on board but the focus returns now to football, thankfully.”