O’Sullivan’s disgusted at London’s army “ban”

FORMER London chairman Noel O’Sullivan said he is ‘disgusted’ by the move to expel a British Army regiment team from the GAA in London and claimed it would do untold damage to the county board if it comes to pass.

A motion is to be debated at Monday night’s board meeting to ‘rescind’ the historic decision taken last year to allow the Irish Guards regiment affiliate to the London County Board.

‘I would be disgusted if it went through,’ said O’Sullivan. It would destroy the image and integrity of the London County Board if that is rescinded.’

The Irish Guards were affiliated only last September on the casting vote of O’Sullivan who was subsequently ousted as chairman in a surprise defeat at county convention before Christmas.

He was defeated in the race for the chair by John Lacey, who is a member of the Granuaile club that is bringing the motion forward tomorrow. London secretary and county footballer Mark Gottsche informed all clubs this week of the impending motion.

‘I am most surprised that the letter is in,’ added O’Sullivan (right) who had served as chairman for four years. ‘I’m absolutely disgusted. I’ll be voicing my opinion on the night completely against it. To put it mildly, it’s pathetic.’

Last September’s decision to allow the Irish Guards to affiliate was in keeping with the decision by the GAA to abolish Rule 21 at a Special Congress back in 2001, which had debarred members of the British security forces from joining the association.

The proposed u-turn is an embarrassment for Croke Park after the pain-staking and protracted debate on such a sensitive issue that ultimately led to the removal of Rule 21.

Lacey told Sportsmail that he would not be giving direction as to what way delegates should vote at Monday night’s meeting: ‘It is up to the clubs now. This is a democratic vote and I don’t believe that the chairman should be dictating, telling the clubs what to do. We have had too much of that in the past over here.’

WITH members of Kerry’s All-Ireland final panel currently on holiday in Florida, manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice has named an experimental side for the county’s 2016 bow in Killarney this afternoon.

The Kingdom take on Clare in the McGrath Cup and Fitzmaurice will turn to the county’s junior side which captured All-Ireland glory in 2015.

Shane Murphy, Brendan O’Sullivan, Philip O’Connor and Jeff O’Donoghue are included from the team that beat Mayo in last August’s junior decider.

Meanwhile Brian Ó Beaglaoich, who helped Kerry to All-Ireland minor final glory against Donegal in 2014, will make his senior debut. Clare defeated Tipperary 1-10 to 1-9 in their McGrath Cup opener last weekend.

KERRY (SF v Clare): S Murphy; B Ó Beaglaoich, G Hartnett, P O’Sullivan; P O’Connor, D O’Sullivan, T O’Sullivan; B O’Sullivan, W Guthrie; P O’Connor, J O’Sullivan, S O’Callaghan; P Joy, G O’Grady, J O’Donoghue.