GAA cites bad communication in Rules row

The GAA is blaming a lack of communication from the ladies Gaelic Football Association for the row between the two organisations…

The GAA is blaming a lack of communication from the ladies Gaelic Football Association for the row between the two organisations over the scheduling of their respective International Rules series.

The GFA negotiated a groundbreaking deal with their Australian counterparts in Singapore just last week but there is now a direct clash between their inaugural competition and the men's series.

The first women's Test is due to take place on October 31st in either Cork or Galway, with the second Test in Parnell Park, Dublin on November 4th.

According to the master GAA diary, the men were due to play on October 15th and 22nd.

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However, these dates were changed on Wednesday to the weekends of October 28th and 29th and November 4th and 5th in Galway and Dublin respectively.

The GAA claims it was never informed of the GFA's arrangements and that switches to the men's schedule were made at the request of the Australian Football League.

"A simple communication from the Chief Executive of the Ladies Football Association to the Games Administration Committee prior to arrangements being confirmed with the AFL could have potentially resolved any problems they might have," the GAA said in a statement.

Helen O'Rourke, the GFA chief executive, said her organisation had been in telephone contact "with the stadium" and that she was disappointed and angry on hearing of the date change.

"It is totally unreasonable to change a master plan in this fashion without having some regard for the effect it would have on other bodies within the association," she said yesterday.

But the GAA is citing its expansive fixture list over all codes and ages and said changes to the master schedule are occasionally necessary.

The GAA maintains it was never aware of the GFA's arrangements and stressed that headquarters has always supported the ladies' association in every way possible.

The two series can not be staged together on the same card as the shinty internationals are already pencilled in as the curtain raiser on the men's programme.

Moreover, television deals play their hand as the men's competition is scheduled for RTE while TG4 have negotiated a deal for the women's series.

Finally, basketball commitments mean Ronan McGarrity is out of the Mayo team to face Dublin under lights at Parnell Park tomorrow. He lines out for Ballina against the Limerick Lions in the cup semis.

James Gill is now partnered in midifeld by Barry Moran while Alan Durcan replaces Alan Costelloe at right half forward.

Mayo (SF v Dublin): J Healy; L O'Malley, D Heaney, K Higgins; P Kelly, J Nallen, P Gardiner; J Gill, B Moran; A Durcan, G Brady, BJ Padden; A Moran, A O'Malley, A Dillon.