A motion at a special Central Council meeting on Sunday that hoped to have next weekend's All-Ireland hurling quarter-finals and Tailteann Cup football semi-finals swapped has failed.
The reason for all the drama is that Wexford GAA will be hosting the Féile na nGael on Saturday and want their clash with Clare moved to accommodate fans who want to attend the game.
All-Ireland SHC Prelim. Q/Final
Wexford 0-32
Laois 0-20
FULL TIME
It’s all over, and we go through to play Clare in the quarter-final. That match is currently scheduled for next Saturday, but we'll be making every effort possible to have it changed to Sunday, on account of how…— Wexford GAA (@OfficialWexGAA) June 15, 2024
Marty Morrissey tweeted that of the 47 voting members who attended, 27 voted for the motion, leaving it just short of the necessary 60% majority required to change the fixture.
Following a special meeting of Central Council this evening (Sunday), our All-Ireland SHC quarter-final v Clare next weekend remains fixed for Saturday. Throw-in time is expected to be announced on Monday.
A 60% majority was needed to have the fixture changed to Sunday, but just… pic.twitter.com/3djFyZC4Bz— Wexford GAA (@OfficialWexGAA) June 16, 2024
It means Wexford v Clare and Dublin v Cork will take place as planned next Saturday with the Tailteann Cup semifinals taking place on Sunday.
The Drama Before A Decision Was Made
Sligo manager Tony McEntee criticised the proposal flip between the Tailteann Cup semi-finals from next Sunday to Saturday to accommodate the All-Ireland senior hurling quarter-finals.
McEntee, whose Sligo team is due to face Down in a semi-final in Croke Park next weekend, told reporters that switching the games would be disrespectful to the competition.
“As far as I know, it’s the hurling counties wanting to increase the profile of hurling, and I understand that entirely. And the idea that these Tailteann Cup games are on a Sunday and not a Saturday makes no difference.
“However, the problem here is the Tailteann Cup has a certain status among the lower-ranked football teams, and it has been given that status by the Association and the president, and at the first opportunity we have to recognise we change it just because people have requested it for the profile of hurling.
“These are hurling quarter-finals, which are probably dead rubber matches in the most case. My disappointment as a manager is in the Association, and while I am not a Sligo man, their decision to not support the lower-ranked counties and moving the Tailteann Cup semi-finals. In what is Jarlath Burns’ first year as president, it would tar his very positive early start.”
Sligo GAA has also aided their manager by releasing a statement expressing disappointment over the outcome. The statement describes the proposal as ‘counter to the commitment the GAA claims to have to the competition and is disrespectful to the counties participating.’
After the excitement and joy of yesterday’s #TailteannCup quarter final win, we are very unhappy at the proposal to switch the semifinal matches away from next Sunday, a date on which our team and supporters had made their plans for some time 1/3
— Sligo GAA (@sligogaa) June 16, 2024
Down hurling manager Ronan Sheehan was not happy with McEntee’s comments and let his feelings known on social media
What an arrogant pr@ck ...calls all Ireland hurling quarter finals dead rubbers ....attitude like this is why hurling can hardly breathe in counties like Armagh ...Tailteann cup already gets way more coverage than it's counterpart Mc Donagh ....this is an exceptional circumstance https://t.co/EZrdlllpNJ
— Ronan Sheehan (@newryhurler1) June 16, 2024
The situation has provided a reminder of the occasional tension between the occasionally awkward marriage at the heart of the GAA - hurling and football.
