GAA secretary slams new admission charge
December 2000
In his report to the annual Louth GAA convention secretary Pat Toner describes a new National League admission charge of £7 as ‘ourtrageous’.
‘When we are trying to encourage families to attend our games, such charges are nothing but off-putting,’ he states.
Mr Toner cites winning Division Two of the NFL in Croke Park as the highlight of the year.
It is Louth’s first major national title since the All-Ireland victory of 1957.
However, regarding the current league campaign which opens with a win followed by two two defeats, the secretary believes it is going to be very difficult to retain Division One status.
Reflecting on a Leinster Championship defeat to Kildare, he remarks that not for the first time in recent years a dubious refereeing decision went against the team.
‘While it is some consolation to go out to the eventual provincial winners, it only makes it more frustrating when one thinks of what might have happened had we defeated Kildare.’
Mr Toner gives ‘no credit’ to the Lilywhites for not visiting the Louth dressingroom after the match.
‘We pride ourselves on the sporting manner our games are played in and it would be a pity to see this tradition disappear. After all, it’s only a game.’
The secretary feels with the new back-door championship format Louth can look to the future with some optimism.
‘Although there is nothing easy when it comes to the championship, we should hope to get over Longford which will give us another crack at Dublin.’
He also reports that the hurlers were not to be upstaged, achieving Division Two status after winning Division Three and then a play-off against Tyrone; though not playing that game until November was unfair on both teams.