DIRECTOR-GENERAL TOM Ryan has defended the GAA’s handling of the All-Ireland club football final substitutes saga, insisting it would have been “completely wrong and inappropriate” for Croke Park to have intervened.
Various commentators suggested that top brass should have jumped in and taken a firm line as confusion reigned about what would happen next after the Kilmacud Crokes-Glen debacle.
A replay of the final was eventually ordered by the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) last Tuesday though it remains to be seen if that game actually takes place as the two clubs find themselves at apparent loggerheads.
GAA President Larry McCarthy refused to field questions on the situation at today’s launch of the association’s annual report and finances document, insisting that “the process is in progress and it will work itself out.”
But Ryan did comment and he said it would have been entirely wrong for top officials to have intervened at any stage, or to have interfered with the workings of the CCCC.
“The worst thing that we could possibly do, and I’ve seen this mentioned in dispatches, this idea that, this term, ‘The GAA’, should step in, that there’s some kind of a deficit there and that the GAA should step in and intervene and direct something,” said Ryan.
“I have never, ever picked up the phone to the chair, or anybody on the CCCC to say, ‘Derek, this is the way I want this to go’. I have never and I will never do that. Any suggestion, implied or explicit, that in some way we should have been directing something, that’s completely wrong and inappropriate.
“To the extent that people don’t get that, that’s okay. It’s a pity [if they don't] but certainly I don’t think it would have added to things terribly much if we were to come out to reinforce the message that you in the media were already communicating very well, that this is how the thing has to play out.
“The safest thing we can do is abide by a process that is tried and trusted and works.”
Ryan railed against the suggestion that given the high profile of the game and the situation, an intervention would have been acceptable.
“No is the answer because to my mind, if you’re playing Junior D football in west Kerry or if you’re an All-Star hurler up at the top of Antrim, it’s the same disciplinary system and people are entitled to having the same rigour applied, irrespective of how good you are or the level that you’re playing at, whether it’s club or county,” he said.
- Originally published at 2.40pm, updated at 5.35pm to appear on TheJournal.
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Criminal how Irish rugby treats John cooney..
@Padjo Mulk: I dunno what makes John Cooney continually join up with the Irish squad, knowing he will never get a decent craic of the whip like the others, maddening stuff!!
Looks like Bill Johnston not playing again & no sign of a contract renewal. Looks like he will be away at the end of the season, which is shame. Looking forward to Cormac getting a debut, looked good in the A game. Need 5 points to keep pressure on Leinster
@Patrick Corrigan: Scottish ref, touch judges and TMO. Can’t see any chance of 5 points!
@Trevor Johnston: same clown who took the England Italy game
@Sam Murray: He was the first Scottish ref to ref a 6 nations game in 19 years. Scottish refs have been poor for 2 decades and it effects the Pro 14. People complain about not having neutral refs, but when an Irish Province plays a Welsh region, it means the ref has to come from Scotland or Italy (people also complain and touch judges and 4th official as well) if the 4 provinces are playing the 4 welsh regions how are you goimg to get 16 scottish and Italian officials that are up to standard? Getting 4 would be good going.
@Patrick Corrigan: only contracts not done yet is Matt Faddes, Alby Mathewson, Louis Ludik
Bill Johnston, Ross Kane, Adam McBurney and Kyle McCall.
Some will retire others moved on.
Henderson reported to be on a 2 year central contract. Would have liked Mathewson for another year. McBurney would do a good job at another province, is better than 3rd choice any others have.
@Kingshu: can’t see faddes getting a contract even though he’s been better this season, just too much up and coming talent in the back line. I heard klye is retiring at the end of this season. With Shannon kept on, doak coming through, Cooney not getting called for up for ireland don’t see alby being kept on (would be nice if he was). Can’t see any of them getting contracts at this stage
@Patrick Corrigan: Alby would be an asset to any club imo but at 35 his age is against him.
@TL55: at 35 for one more year it wouldn’t be an issue for me. At present Cooney is 1st choice, the IRFU allowed Ulster a 4th NIQ but can only have 3 in a matchday, meaning Mathewson has only played 2/3 games for Ulster. Next year Doak will be getting games and will quickly leapfrog Shanahan. If Faddes goes, Mathewson may be used more, and it at start of year I can see Mathewson being on bench for big games, but by end of the year it would hopefully be Doak. As it stands it will be Shannahan on bench, but I see Doak becoming 2nd choice more quickly.
@Kingshu: it’s not only 3 NIQ in match day squads it is 3 non EU citizens, Saffas count as EU due to Kolpak agreement.
@Michael Bryson: Where do Ulster stand regarding EU regulations? Six counties in the UK and three in the EU. The NI protocol further muddying the waters. I wouldn’t want to calculate the legal costs if that ever went to court.
@Sustainable Hedgehog: the NI protocol means that NI is following most EU regulations so in effect its in the EU. I think in this case re player eligibility British citizens would also be classed as EU.
@Michael Bryson: the protocol is for the single market, so would that cover Labour laws cover that? The UK copied most eu laws, so currently it would be the same, but the UK could change their their law and then my head explodes!
@Kingshu:
I would definitely keep Alby for another year he is a fantastic back up player for Cooney and brings great tempo and decision making.
I also would not have given Shanners another years contract although I think that is more a sweetheart golden handshake deal and he will leave at the end of the one year extension.
The reason being that there are two scrumhalfs in the academy and both look really good, especially Doak but Finlay was also the Irish u20’s first choice.
Kyle McCall and Ross Kane have never shown that they can command a place as even third choice and they need to move on to free up spaces and finance.
Calum Reid has a chance to prove he can surpass McCall in the loosehead
I’m delighted to see Izuchukwu on the bench. He’s a great prospect and perfectly suited to the modern lock forward role. Hopefully he’ll get plenty of minutes this season.
@Sustainable Hedgehog:
Yes it will be good to get a look at him.
He certainly has the step and pace and it remains to be judged what he is like in the power stakes.
We wish him well