Fans exploited but McGill says counties decide second colours

THE GAA has no input into the colours used by counties when a change is necessary due to a clash of jerseys, leading to suspicions among supporters that they are being exploited by county boards and manufacturers, who benefit financially from replica kit sales.

Kerry, Mayo, Tipperary and Galway are among the counties whose change of colours deviate greatly from their traditional jerseys. Kerry wear all-gold, with the shade much different to the colour on the traditional jersey.

Mayo used dark blue, with black shorts last Sunday, a big change from their established green-andred, an iconic mixture that’s even celebrated in song. Tipperary hurlers were a mixture of navy and black, while Laois wore white with a blue strip across the chest.

Feargal McGill, head of games administration, said counties are free to register any colour they wish as second choices.

Traditional

“The only requirement is that we must be notified at the start of the year. The colour they use is up to them, even if it has nothing to do with their traditional jersey,” he said.

GAA rules state where there’s a clash of colours, both counties must change. The long-established practice of counties wearing provincial colours no longer happens.

There are instances where counties ask to change colours, even when there’s no clash, but McGill said that’s rarely allowed.

“When it comes to deciding whether it’s necessary to change, what impacts on the referees is crucial. They are the ones who have to make split-second decisions,” said McGill.

That has always been understood, but fans now suspect that instead of making subtle changes to first-choice strips, the need for change is being exploited to boost the booming replica jersey market.

Mayo and Meath will be in second-choice jerseys next Sunday but Croke Park has decided there’s no need for Kerry and Donegal to change.