Kildare stood strong despite GAA’s bullying tactics

THE GAA’s handling of the venue for Kildare’s football qualifier against Mayo was a fiasco — and it has taken hugely from the coverage of the biggest hurling weekend of the year so far.

We’ve seen it in the hurling round-robin how important home advantage is.

Why did it take three days for the GAA’s director of communications Alan Milton to come out publicly and respond? Where was the president, John Horan? Or the director general, Tom Ryan?

The bullying tactics has my blood boiling. Kildare said they wanted it played in Newbridge but they just went and switched it to Croke Park anyway.

Ned Quinn of the fixtures body mentions crowd trouble. Milton and Feargal McGill of Croke Park cite health and safety. Give us a break. These are red herrings. The worst line was from Nickey Brennan, a former president, telling Kildare they had made their point, time to move on.

The arrogance of it all.

Clearly, none of them realise the anger and disconnect on the ground.

If it’s going to cost €5 million to redevelop St Conleth’s Park, let the GAA pay for the bulk of it. Pick out key grounds to develop strategically. Work with the county board to make it happen.

I’m delighted Kildare stood their ground.