A WILD GEESE CHASE
I don’t even listen to critics of Sydney trip, give us a break: Colin
KILKENNY’S Colin Fennelly has hit back at criticism of their recent Wild Geese challenge game with Galway in Sydney.
The winners of the 2017 Allireland, Galway, edged out Kilkenny, the National League holders, to claim the Wild Geese Trophy this month.
Critics claimed the GAA should be pumping money into promoting hurling in weaker counties rather than sending elite teams to Australia.
Carlow hurler Paul Coady (inset) led the criticism and claimed: “They’ll feed you the lines of trying to grow the game globally. Why are they trying to grow the game across the world? Grow it in Ireland first.”
But four-time All-ireland winner Fennelly said: “It was definitely worthwhile. I don’t know the ins and outs but I’m certain the money involved is just a small portion of what the GAA gets every single year. Us players, say Galway as All-ireland champions and we’ve won All-irelands ourselves, we don’t get that much out of it and for people to complain and want to take that from us. You know, you don’t even bother with them in your lives – people who complain and give it.
“It was my first time, proba- bly all of our first times on the Kilkenny team in Australia. I’ve cousins and family over there that I barely ever see so it was absolutely fabulous that the GAA gave us that opportunity.
“The reason we don’t get to go over there is because of hurling, because we want to stay at home and play, but the GAA gave us the opportunity and it was fantastic.”
Mcdonagh Cup winner Coady clarified in his comments about the
Wild Geese Trophy that he didn’t begrudge the players the trip. Rather he said it was the GAA he had a problem with for not promoting hurling more.
But Fennelly, an
AIB Leinster club finalist with Ballyhale Shamrocks, said: “Well then people shouldn’t attack the holiday or the game itself. They should just say, ‘Is there money there for hurling?’ To be honest, it’s just giving out and looking for any excuse. I don’t understand it.
“We all have to fight for ourselves at the end of the day. We have no money in our club but we’re using our experience to bring on the young lads. We’re all working hard and have no lights, we don’t have a stand, barely two pitches and we’re trying to get a youths pitch. Other counties are giving out about money – you don’t need money to win games to develop players although obviously it’s an advantage.”
Meanwhile, Fennelly, 29, a former back to back All-ireland winner says he can’t see any teams retaining the Maccarthy Cup any time soon.
The ex-all-star said: “Because of the competitiveness I can’t really see it (back to back) happening. Galway, we thought they could do it but Limerick were absolutely amazing in the final and they’re going to find it hard to come back because others will want to take the top team down.”
Why are they trying to grow the game across the world? Grow it in Ireland first..