HERE WE GO AGAIN. Just when you think that the GAA can’t baffle us anymore they hit us full square between the eyes and bowl us out for six.
I don’t know about you but I thought the Cork strike saga was sorted out months ago but it would appear not. On Sunday last Cork defeated Wexford (just about mind) in the final round of the group games in the National Hurling League. As a result Cork, despite missing the first two rounds of the NHL, made it through to the knock-out stages of the competition, while the defeat ensured that Wexford were consigned to relegation from division one.
Waterford’s win over Dublin (in the same group as Cork) meant that they too qualified for the quarterfinals of the NHL but then total panic struck the officialdom of the GAA.
‘Cork and Waterford didn’t play each other so therefore we can’t ascertain who finished second to the Cats and who finished third.’
You must be joking?
Who cares?
‘But it’s vital you see as to know who should play Limerick and who should play Tipp.’ Again we shouted, ‘who cares?’ But once more our shouts fell on deaf ears.
So in their wisdom they met on Tuesday (two full days after the matches) and decided that in true GAA style, Waterford and Cork should meet in Limerick on Sunday next to decide who will play Limerick and who will play Tipp in the quarterfinals of the NHL on the following Sunday.
Now I have seen some mad and infuriating things in the GAA over the years but this surely tops the lot.
This is unreal. It’s March for God’s sake. It’s the quarter-finals of the league. Who cares whether it’s Tipp or Limerick.
Toss a coin or something. But no. More cynical and dare I say it sceptical GAA critics out there may say that it is a chance to get another big gate in to make up for the two lost matches between Cork and Waterford and Cork and Kilkenny. But I could never do those sort of conspiracy theories the same justice as other people. But sometimes I seriously consider joining the club.
I’m sure Gerald McCarthy will not be too unhappy by the prospect of getting another game into his team but I have a feeling that Justin McCarthy will welcome this extra game like a turkey welcomes Christmas.
There is a fair chance that both sets of selectors will use this game to experiment and therefore it will probably be a worthwhile exercise but where does that leave the Rebel and Déise supporters who intend making the long journey to Limerick and in the process parting with plenty of their hard earned cash. I just don’t know. One of these days we’ll get it........
KIDNEY STAYS QUIET
Did you watch Munster against Ulster in the Magniers at the weekend?
A mixture of a team between first teamers, returning Internationals and subs and Munster blow a full-strength Ulster side out of the water at Musgrave Park with an excellent display which more than anything else displays how strong the Munster squad has become.
This weekend it’s Connacht away and then the following week it’s the big one, Heineken Cup quarter-final away to Gloucester.
Anyway before all that all the talk this week is about who will replace Eddie O’Sullivan as Irish boss. The weekend saw most of the big names (White, Howard, Mitchell and Ruddock) all bow out, while it also saw Declan Kidney refusing to be drawn on whether he’s interested. This would suggest to me that he is very much interested and therefore he should get it. He’d be an awful loss to Munster but who could deny him a shot at this once in a lifetime opportunity if that’s what he wants. Maybe he could bow out with another Heineken Cup in the bag!
