Advertisement
Clare and Limerick footballers in action last year. INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan
GAA

4 Munster counties to boycott 2015 championship if seeding not reversed

Clare, Tipperary, Limerick and Waterford players are to seek to withdraw from next year’s McGrath and Railway Cups.

THE WATERFORD, CLARE, Tipperary and Limerick senior football panels have vowed to boycott the 2015 Munster championship if the seeding system in place for next year is not reversed.

The panels have tonight issued a statement via the Gaelic Players Association over the controversy surrounding seeding for next year’s Munster senior football championship.

The players have admitted that their hands are tied as to reversing the system for next year’s draw, which takes place tomorrow night.

But they have insisted they want the decision reversed for the 2015 season and as a form of immediate protest, they are to ask their counties to withdraw from next year’s McGrath Cup and players will also be asked not to line out for Munster in next year’s Railway Cup.

The seeding system in place for next year will see Cork and Kerry seeded at the semi-final stage and placed on opposite sides of the draw, a decision which has angered the players in the other counties.

The statement in full reads:

“The Waterford, Clare, Tipperary and Limerick senior football panels would like to formally express our serious disappointment at the Munster Council’s decision to seed the Munster SFC 2014 without any consultation with county squads.

“We are aggrieved that this decision, which seriously disadvantages our counties’ provincial championship prospects, was also taken without certain counties being properly mandated to vote.

“We also believe the decision to seed the Munster football championship affects the wider All-Ireland series in an unfair manner.

“We understand that we are now restricted by the rules for the 2014 season but we will be approaching our respective county executives in the four counties to seek assurances that the decision will be revisited next year.

image

The launch of this year’s Munster SFC
Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan

“As a form of immediate protest against this decision, and respecting the views of our squad members, the four squads have asked their counties to withdraw from the 2014 McGrath Cup.

“Also we will be asking our players to consider not making themselves available for the 2014 Railway Cup football series. In recent years players from the four counties have helped backbone the Munster Railway Cup side.

“Players from the four squads will then convene a meeting before the National league 2014 to assess the situation going forward.

“All four squads are also united in saying that if the seeding arrangement isn’t reversed next year through the formal channels, that the current panellists will not participate in the 2015 Munster championship.

“We would like to thank the people inside and outside our counties for the support and good wishes since this decision was taken.”

Signed on behalf of the squads: Shane Briggs (Waterford), Seanie Buckley (Limerick), Joe Hayes (Clare), George Hannigan (Tipperary).

Poll: Who would you like to see captain the Irish International Rules team?

World’s most northerly Gaelic football game fixed for near Arctic Circle

Your Voice
Readers Comments
40
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.