‘It’s a massive own goal’ – Eddie Brennan questions scheduling of hurling championship ties at the same time
Lee Chin of Wexford in action against Paddy Smyth, left, and John Bellew of Dublin during the Leinster SHC round one match at Chadwicks Wexford Park in Wexford. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Kilkenny legend Eddie Brennan has labelled the scheduling of a slew of championship hurling games at similar times yesterday as “a massive own goal” by the GAA.
All eyes were on Ennis (2pm throw-in) for the heavyweight Munster SHC clash between neighbours Limerick and Clare - televised live on RTÉ - and that meant so many other marquee games were left in the shade as a result.
The tasty Leinster SHC clash of Wexford and Dublin commenced at the same time while Galway versus Carlow and the meeting of Kilkenny and Antrim (2.30pm) meant that many hurling followers were left out in the cold.
Throw in the fact that the Joe McDonagh Cup ties between Laois and Offaly, as well as the clash between Westmeath and Kerry, also had a two o'clock start yesterday and it's easy to see why Brennan was left bemused at some of those games not being fixed for Saturday.
“It's a shocking own goal,” Brennan said on The Throw-In Hurling podcast on Independent.ie.
“Coming into it you're looking at the bigger Munster games and breezing through the fixtures and then on Friday evening I was thinking, 'Why in the name of God did they do that?'
“Why in the name of God are you putting them all on at the same time because I know lots of lads in Kilkenny who would have gone to Walsh Park (for Waterford v Cork at 4.0) probably if Kilkenny hadn't been playing.
“There's hurling people who will go to matches anywhere but most importantly, Sunday afternoon is sitting down watching the two matches and Saturday is the same now.
“I'd love to know why that happened because it's a massive own goal in my view. There has to be the option to go to other matches or at least watch them live.”
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