GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghail says he is in some agreement with Seamus 'Cheddar' Plunkett's criticism of the recent Fenway Hurling Classic in Boston.

The Laois manager hit out over the decision to play Super 11s exhibition at Fenway Park, claiming 'a lack of strategic thinking about growing the game' in weaker counties.

While the game itself was deemed a success by the Gaelic Players Association after 30,000 fans turned out for it at the home of the Boston Red Sox, Cavan man Ó Fearghail says he can see both sides of the argument.

"'Cheddar's point is right, his general point is right: It is more important to promote hurling in Ballybay than Boston and I accept that," Ó Fearghail said in the Irish Examiner.

"I spent three years as chairman of the Ulster hurling committee. I know what it's like promoting hurling in those situations and it's not easy and that's where I would personally love to put energy and development.

"But look, if money would do it, the cheque would have been written a long time ago. It's not just that simple. If somebody put a cheque on Páraic Duffy's desk and said: '€1m is needed to grow hurling in Cavan', he'd sign it in the morning. There's no doubt about that.

"But it's a more complex issue, we do try to promote hurling, but I don't think you do something good on one hand and then say: 'I can't do something else also.' The game in Boston was a one-off game. It was of no cost, as far as I'm aware, to the association. It paid for itself. It made 30,000 people that were there on the night, mostly of an Irish extraction, very happy."

Tweet

Most Read Stories