GAA ready to make Páirc Uí Chaoimh U-turn

THE backlash over the refusal to make Páirc Uí Chaoimh available for the Liam Miller testimonial looks set to force the GAA into a dramatic U-turn.

Despite a strongly-worded statement on Friday night insisting that the stadium was off-limits because of an existing rule, the association has clearly been stung by the firestorm of criticism over the fundraiser in honour of the memory of the former Republic of Ireland international.

The GAA revealed yesterday that director general Tom Ryan and president John Horan, along with representatives of the Cork committee, ‘are to seek a meeting with the organising committee of the Liam Miller Tribute Match to discuss issues around the game’ and the Cork Evening

Echo reported last night that the game on September 25 will now go ahead at the 45,000 capacity Páirc Uí Chaoimh rather than the 7,000 Turner’s Cross, tickets for which actually sold out on Friday morning.

After the ‘Newbridge or Nowhere’ debacle forced the GAA into an embarrassing climbdown, Kildare refusing to give up home advantage and gaining huge public support for their stance for their round three qualifier against Mayo, here comes another version of same.

The director general was namechecked by Kildare manager Liam O’Neill is sorting out that huge PR disaster and ensuring Newbridge staged the game despite public pronouncements to the opposite.

And somebody at the top

clearly decided that another intervention was needed. No doubt it will come out, Ryan’s part in it all. Former Munster council chairman and presidential candidate Noel Walsh – a prime mover in the campaign to open up Croke Park to other sports – said there is wriggle room in the rulebook to allow the game, despite Croke Park being the only official ground that is allowed under rule to accommodate other sports such as rugby and soccer. Walsh said that the particular circumstances of this fundraiser make it different. ‘I don’t see it as breaking the rule which says “games which are in opposition”,’ added Walsh. He continued: ‘This is a charitable thing which is not in opposition to any aspect. ‘It’s like the Kildare situation where they got the game fixed for Newbridge. ‘It could be used on the basis that it’s not using Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the promotion of other codes, like rugby or soccer. This is a charitable thing for a former wonderful footballer who played a different code.’