Cavan hurling manager Ollie Bellew has blasted the GAA for including New York in the Lory Meagher cup.
New York entered the Lory Meagher for the first time this year, entering at the semi-final stage. New York scoring a 13-point win over Monaghan in that semi-final last Saturday.
This was New York’s first senior championship game since 2006, when they competed in the Ulster final.
However, Cavan boss Bellew is furious that his side must face New York in Croke Park on Saturday.
“It's almost disgusting how the GAA have handled the situation” said Bellew, regarding New York’s entry at the semi-final stage.
“But look, it's not New York's fault and it's not our fault. We both have a job to do next Saturday”.
“If there's any integrity within the organisation, it'll be investigated and they'll look how to deal with things like that better going forward”.
“Yeah, but they've been exposed for their lies this time” added Bellew when asked if the GAA were damaging Lory Meagher and lower division teams with New York’s inclusion.
“You know, it was a vote-getting thing” added Bellew. “You know, promoting hurling in developing counties is always a token gesture”.
“But it was all compounded by the very fact that, New York are staying in Mullingar! Monaghan had deserved to be in a Lory Meagher final, and all of a sudden, they have to go to a Lory Meagher semi-final in a neutral venue, and that neutral venue was Mullingar”.
“So, like, that compounded everything for me”.
“But again, look, it's a terrible injustice”. Bellew went on “We could use that as a motivational tool, but would we get out with the right frame of mind next week if that's all we had on our mind? No, we absolutely wouldn't”.
Cavan face New York in the Lory Meagher Cup final this Saturday at 3pm. The game is live on Northern Sound.
