FORMER GALWAY HURLING manager John McIntyre says he\u2019s not shocked that the county are still being denied home matches in the Leinster Championship.<\/p>\n
The Leinster Council announced yesterday that Galway will have to continue travelling for their provincial fixtures next season, despite being in the competition since 2009. The exclusion of the Galway minors and U21 teams is also set to continue.<\/p>\n
McIntyre, who stepped down in 2011, says little has changed since his time in charge when Galway were first introduced into the Leinster Championship.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t come as a great surprise,\u201d he told The42<\/em>.\n<\/p>\n \u201cDuring my three years in charge, we played Walsh Cup matches and Leinster Championship games. The only home game we had was against DCU and that was only because they weren\u2019t a county team.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s basically been the same under Anthony Cunningham and Micheal Donoghue. Galway has been travelling lengths and breadths for their matches and it\u2019s very difficult to justify.\u201d<\/p>\n Leinster Council Chairman John Horan outlined a number of reasons for upholding the stance on Galway, including an unwillingness among Leinster counties to travel to Galway\u2019s Pearse Stadium in Salthill for games. He also added that Galway are financially compensated for the lack of home matches and receive \u20ac20,000 annually from the council.<\/p>\n McIntyre however, says this figure is insufficient.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Leinster Council are making virtue of the fact that they are paying Galway a sum to compensate but I don\u2019t think \u20ac20,000 would even cover the cost of travelling to two or three games. There\u2019s a lot of expense involved and it\u2019s a bit of a sop to Galway really.\u201d<\/p>\n In relation to the issue of Leinster counties travelling to Galway for provincial fixtures, McIntyre rebuked the argument presented by Leinster Council and said it would an enjoyable occasion for travelling supporters.<\/p>\n It was previously suggested that Galway would consider asking Croke Park to intervene if their request for home games was refused again this year. McIntyre says it\u2019s only a matter of time before Galway hurling is provoked into action.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can understand why there\u2019s a lot of disgruntled Galway hurling people around at the moment.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Leinster Council can\u2019t have it both ways. Galway were invited in to help prop up an ailing championship. I think they have kept up their side of the bargain but they\u2019re getting nothing in return.<\/p>\n \u20ac20,000 a year to fob them off really just doesn\u2019t cut the mustard in the context of the cost of modern inter-county teams.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cThe level of Galway mutiny over this remains to be seen,\u201d McIntyre added.<\/p>\n \u201cThe ball is in Galway\u2019s court now and they\u2019ve basically been told, \u2018We want you in Leinster but on our terms.\u2019 If Galway were winning Leinster titles and winning All-Irelands, I don\u2019t think this would matter but they\u2019re not.\u201d<\/p>\n The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!<\/p>\n\n
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