O'Neill: hurling should not be governed by the elite
May 03, 2013
At the launch were, l/r: Humphrey Kelleher; Aileen Lawlor, President of the Camogie Association; Liam O'Neill, GAA President: Graham Hennessy, Sales Manager Top Flight; Pat Hamilton, Cooley Poc Fada Competition and Martin Donnelly ©INPHO
Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald suggested that some of the weaker counties should have less power when it comes to rule-making for the ancient game, stating: "There's a lot of counties there that don't have too much interest in hurling that are voting on this. I'll say it straight out - I don't agree with it. I just don't agree with that. I think this needs to be looked at."
However, when questioned on this point at yesterday's 2013 Poc Fada launch, O'Neill was in total disagreement: "I reject totally the notion that only the elite have the right to govern hurling.
"Hurling belongs to us all and belongs to all those who play hurling and everyone will have a voice in it. I want people to be honest and to say where they want hurling to go.
"At the moment, what happens in the league is that sectional interest takes over because [certain counties] view where they are at this particular moment in time and that's not vision, that's just dealing with the immediate. We want to look at it long-term.
"I am realistic, I come from a county [Laois] outside of hurling's strongest group so I understand the difficulty better than most presidents. I know what it's like to be left outside the top group. I want Westmeath, Antrim, Laois and Carlow to be included in the thinking." Tweet
