Westmeath GAA has been hit with a major controversy, forcing them to take the radical step of withdrawing the minor hurlers from the All-Ireland ‘B’ semi-final and award the game to Meath.
Ironically, Westmeath were due to play the Royals on Tuesday of this week and the Lake County had a full strength side for the game, which gave them a real chance of making the final and atoning for last year’s defeat by Kerry. However, when Westmeath GAA officials learned that gear was taken from a dressing room in Armagh, they were left with no option but to withdraw the team from the competition.
It’s understood a large number of Westmeath minors were involved in the incident, which is being described as “embarrassing” by County Committee officers. Chairman, Sean Sheridan, confirmed to Topic this week that they were left with no option when the serious breach of discipline occurred. Fermanagh ladies were playing Antrim at the same venue as Westmeath and Armagh and jerseys were removed from the Ernersiders’ dressing room.
“I am very strict on discipline; when this happened, we dealt with it very promptly and decisively,” he said.
“It was my call as Chairman and having spoken to the minor hurling manager and fellow officers, I was left with no choice. It’s a harsh lesson for these young players, but I hope they will emerge from it with stronger characters. I believe they are decent young men,” he said.
NO OPTION
It’s understood the jerseys that were removed from the dressing room in Armagh were returned and that there will be no further consequences for those involved.
The minor hurlers were managed by Johnny Greville and his management team of Frank Mullen and Pat Clancy accompanied him on the day. They were joined at the Gaelic Grounds in Armagh by Coiste Na nÓg Chairman, Liam McDaniel. But Topic understands no officials were aware of the incident until later in the afternoon.
Officials are remaining tight-lipped on the number of Westmeath players involved in the incident, but Topic understands it’s as many as 15. That would have left Westmeath with no option but to withdraw from the competition as resources would have been fully stretched for the semi-final against Meath.
The jerseys were taken from a dressing room after the Westmeath versus Armagh game, which the Lake County won on a 5-14 to 1-10 scoreline. Mr Sheridan said the episode caused “serious embarrassment” for Westmeath GAA.
“They are only minors and they made an error of judgment, I believe. Not every player was involved and I couldn’t put a number on it. We did not take the decision lightly, I can assure you,” he said.
Many observers felt the decision to withdraw from the All-Ireland ‘B’ semi-final was harsh, but sources close to the team felt it was the correct decision in the circumstances.
A lot of preparation went into this year’s minor hurling side and there’s huge disappointment at this, the latest controversy to rock Westmeath GAA. It has been a bad year for the minor hurlers in general: the team bus broke down en route to Newbridge for this year’s Leinster Championship clash with Kildare, which they lost. On the same day, Ciaran Fagan, who was named to start at centre back on the team, suffered a family bereavement.
