Reynolds: Stop doom and gloom

MICHAEL REYNOLDS has blasted Leinster’s critics but refused to meet head-on the issue of the utter dominance of the Dublin footballers.

Reynolds, who is Leinster’s CEO and fulltime secretary, said in his annual report that games in the province were well contested bar those involving Dessie Farrell’s Blues, who picked up a 10th Leinster title in a row in 2020 (above).

“Dublin continue to dominate,” wrote Reynolds. “To be honest, other than the Dublin games the rest of the Championship was evenly contested with one exception.”

Critics point out that the funding that is funnelled to the capital must stop but Reynolds said that “doom and gloom” merchants should stop taking unrealistic pot-shots from the sidelines if they want to instigate change.

“Yet few offer to seek election to County Committees in an effort to correct the errors as they see it.

“Society and certainly social media is more and more having a negative slant. At a time when everyone needs positivity it is unfortunate.”

Reynolds added the GAA’S policy of finishing knock-out games on the day has to continue to guarantee “fixture certainty” during the pandemic.

He added: “An opportunity was grasped – all knock-out games finish on the day. In normal circumstances, it would have been difficult to have such a revolution accepted and it is a revolution.

“Ultimately, fixture certainty and replays are incompatible. I hope that with the exception perhaps of All-ireland senior finals (Tier 1) that all knockout games will finish on the day.”