Galway’s issue in relation to full involvement in a provincial hurling championship continues to be addressed. In recent days both GAA Director General Padraig Duffy and Connacht GAA President Mick Rock have spoken on the subject:
GAA Director General Padraig Duffy, in his annual Report ahead of this year’s congress:
“This year’s Congress will consider a motion from Galway that seeks to include the County in the Provincial Championships in all grades. I fully agree that the current situation is unfair to Galway and, even more so, to Ulster teams who suffer from going directly into the All-Ireland Championships at the quarter- or semi-final stage. It is an issue that must be addressed. It may be that Congress will pass the motion [that seeks to include Galway in provincial hurling championships at all grades] and meet Galway's concerns, but, in the aftermath of Congress, Management Committee and Central Council must address the needs both of Ulster and, if necessary, Galway."
Connacht GAA President Mick Rock to in his address to Connacht GAA Convention:
“We all value our Provincial structures, but the case of Galway hurling certainly puts a question mark over our Provincial hurling system at least. Here is a strong hurling county who have no opponents in Connacht at any level and are not granted parity of esteem in another province. It is surely bad for the promotion of hurling in Galway, that they have no home championship game in the senior championship and their under 21 and minor teams have no competition at all until the provincial finals are over. If our provincial system cannot deliver fair and equal All-Ireland competition in hurling then perhaps it is no longer fit for purpose. And if our hurling provincial system was to fall can football be far behind? There is an urgent need for the ‘Galway problem’ to be resolved and resolved quickly.”
