GAA LEINSTER SHC PROPOSALS:GALWAY COUNTY Board last night voted in favour of entering the Leinster senior hurling championship. After an intense debate at the board meeting in Athenry - with most of the county's senior officers opposing the move - the decision was taken by secret ballot on a margin of 66-54.
The news will come as a relief to the GAA's Hurling Development Committee, which formulated the proposal and had believed that it would have the support of the counties. Further good news last night came with the decision of the Meath County Board to back the plan after it had been rejected in four other Leinster counties, Dublin, Offaly, Wexford and Westmeath, but accepted by provincial and All-Ireland champions Kilkenny.
Had Galway rejected the HDC proposal - and given the unwillingness of those most directly affected in Leinster to consent - it would have been very hard to envisage the plan being accepted by the other counties at Saturday's GAA special congress in Croke Park.
Instead it will go forward with some chance of success. As a three-year trial, the proposition will require just a simple majority to go through.
The only two speakers in Athenry to support the proposal were Galway hurling captain David Collins, representing his club, Liam Mellows, and hurling board secretary John Fahey.
But the move was strongly opposed by most speakers, including hurling board chair Miko Ryan, Central Council delegate Bernie O'Connor and former county board chairs Frank Burke and Gerry Cloherty.
Former Galway hurling managers Jarlath Cloonan and Matt Murphy also spoke vehemently against the proposal.
Collins said that the move would give the hurlers the competitive games necessary for them to bid for the All-Ireland and pleaded with delegates to back the players and allow them go into Leinster.
"I plead with you to give your backing to the players. They voted unanimously to back the move 100 per cent. I am asking you to do the same," he said.
He was opposed by Bernie O'Connor, a selector when Galway won the All-Ireland titles in 1987 and '88, who said that the county had managed to win three All-Ireland senior titles, nine national leagues, nine under-21s and seven minors in the past 30 years "without having to leave our province".
A lack of representation on the Leinster Council, the impact on Galway club games, the absence of Galway's Leinster championship games being played in Galway, the fact that four Leinster counties are opposed to the move and the lack of financial benefits to Galway were cited as the main reasons by those opposing the plan.
Hurling board chair Miko Ryan said that counties around the country were waiting to hear what their views were: "It is time to tell the country we are totally opposed to this plan," he said.
Earlier in the day the Galway players had come out publicly to support the move. Having reached their decision at the weekend the hurlers released a statement yesterday morning and Collins appeared on a number of media outlets strongly putting the case.
The concept has the backing of county hurling manager Ger Loughnane, who was believed to be unwilling to continue in the role should last night's meeting have decided to oppose the proposal.
The Meath County Board meeting that gave its support to Galway moving into Leinster also backed other proposals before the congress, including the lowering of the under-21 grade to under-20
