Official complaint made

Wicklow unhappy over closed Ring Cup draw

AN official letter of complaint has been sent from Wicklow County Board to the GAA over the conducting of the Christy Ring Cup semi-final draw behind closed doors on Monday morning last.

The draw has sent Wicklow on the short journey to Netwatch Cullen Park where they will face Carlow after the neighbours finally put Kildare away in Newbridge last weekend.

Wicklow’s assistant Chairman Martin Fitzgerald said he was “very disappointed” with how the draw was conducted by the GAA and he said that an official letter of complaint had been sent from the Garden county authorities to Croke Park expressing their upset at the handling of the draw in this fashion.

“If that draw happened in Wicklow with Mick Hagan and Bridget Kenny the clubs would go mad. It wouldn’t happen in Wicklow. It wouldn’t be done,” he said.

Wicklow Senior hurling coach Michael Neary said that holding the draw in that manner leaves the GAA wide open to criticism.

“I think they leave themselves wide open to criticism. I knew that we would be playing Carlow at some stage but not to invite officials from any of the counties leaves a lack of openess,” he said.

The former Wicklow goalkeeper said that no game at this stage of the competition was going to be easy but that a home draw would have been preferred.

He also said that Carlow would be a strong challenge and that he watched them get the better of Kildare in Newbridge last weekend.

“They were very strong, they’ve been playing at a higher level.

“They’re physically very strong and they are capable hurlers who are able to move the ball quickly,” he added.

Neary is happy with the progress of his panel and he feels that the competition for places is something that will stand to Wicklow when they go up against the neighbours on May 20, the day before the footballers clash with Louth in Parnell Park with the knowledge that Stephen ‘Chester’ Kelly will line out for both teams surely a boost for Seamus Murphy’s men.

“This is a huge test for us and we’re just going to have to get on with the whole thing. We are 70 minutes away from Croke Park so let’s see where this journey takes us,” said Michael Neary.