Leinster Council CEO Michael Reynolds has hit out at the negativity and criticism directed at the province’s senior football championship.

This past November saw Dublin cruise to a 10th consecutive Leinster SFC crown, defeating Meath by 21 points in the final and leaving strong critics of the provincial competition to once again question its value afterwards.

Writing in his annual report for 2020, Mr Reynolds outlined that “other than the Dublin games, the rest of the Championship was evenly contested with one exception”.

He also added that it was “unfortunate to have to contend with doom and gloom” in these challenging and unprecedented times brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Few offer to seek election to County Committees in an effort to correct the errors as they see it," Mr Reynolds wrote. 

"Society and certainly social media is more and more having a negative slant. At a time when everyone needs positivity it is unfortunate. 

"It is amazing the many suggestions we receive throughout a year as to how we can do things differently or not at all.

"Some of the commentary is not based on facts or reality. Yet few offer to seek election to County Committees in an effort to correct the errors as they see it.

"At a time when everyone needs positivity it is unfortunate to have to contend with doom and gloom.”

The Leitrim native also added that in order to ensure "fixture certainty" during the pandemic the GAA's policy of finishing knock-out games on the day must continue.

“To the credit of clubs and counties there was a total acceptance of the Emergency Powers implemented by Coiste Bainisti," he wrote.

"An opportunity was grasped - all knock-out games finish on the day. In normal circumstances, it would have been difficult to have such a revolution accepted and it is a revolution.

“Ultimately, fixture certainty and replays are incompatible. I hope that with the exception perhaps of All-Ireland senior finals (Tier 1) that all knockout games will finish on the day".

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