Galway to seek ‘fair deal’ from Leinster

GALWAY GAA officials are hoping to work out a new participating agreement with the Leinster Council for their hurlers continuing to play in the province.

Galway treasurer Mike Burke says the Tribesmen are “keeping the Leinster hurling championship going” and that it is the intention of Galway GAA executive to thrash out a new participation deal with the Leinster Council in the new year.

This year’s Galway-Kilkenny game at Pearse Stadium was the first time that the Tribesmen hosted a Leinster Championship game, nine years after they joined the competition.

But shocked delegates at the recent Galway annual convention were told that the county only received 15 per cent of the gate receipts from that occasion. Former county chairman, John Joe Holleran, who is now a provincial delegate, also confirmed that the Connacht Council didn’t receive any of the gate receipts from the first Leinster hurling game held in Galway.

“While the Connacht Council administered the game it is my understanding is there was no accrual to the Connacht Council whatsoever with regards expenses to that game,” said Holleran.

“Before the game the Leinster Council representatives came to see if everything was alright, and on that day they actually said that under no circumstances would they be paying any expenses to the cost of stewarding. Down through the years any cost in relation to stewards is always covered by the Connacht Council but not one cent of it is covered by the Leinster Council.”

Galway will host both Carlow and Wexford at Pearse Stadium in this year’s Leinster SHC, and after hearing Holleran’s remarks, Burke said he was determined to thrash out a new deal before that time.

“John Joe, in that case we have to sit down in January with Leinster and get a fair deal from them. Because we are keeping the Leinster hurling championship going and we deserve a better deal from the Leinster Council.”