Antrim hurling joint-manager Gary O'Kane says last weekend's Christy Ring Cup final fiasco against Meath would not have happened in the top tier championship.

Speaking with the Belfast Telegraph, O'Kane blasted Croke Park officials over what he feels was an "inept handling" of the situation on their part and feels it should never have been allowed to go as far as the Central Competitions Control Committee ordering a replay, which has been fixed for this Saturday evening in Newry.

"I honestly believe that if this had been the Leinster or Munster Hurling final or the All-Ireland final, then the situation which evolved would not have happened," O'Kane told the Belfast Telegraph.

"Do you mean to tell me that there was not a referee's assessor in the stand? And do you think for one minute that the likes of Kilkenny would have been allowed to go up, take delivery of the cup, go home and celebrate and then be told to come back a few days later for a replay? Not a chance."

He added: "You have a referee, two linesmen, four umpires, a fourth official seated on the touchline - I ask you, surely to God eight folk are enough to prevent untoward things happening? All teams train and work hard and while human error is understandable, the manner in which things like this are dealt with can leave a lot to be desired. I think there was inept handling in this case."

Last night the Meath county board proposed that the replay be fixed for Saturday week in interest of "player welfare", while Antrim secretary Frankie Quinn has since indicated to RTE Sport that they will fulfil the replay fixture set for this Saturday at Pairc Esler with an Ulster SHC semi-final against Derry coming up on Sunday week.

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