O'Reilly criticises final decision

Ulster SHC Final Antrim v Derry: Down hurling manager Jimmy O'Reilly has complained that the Ulster Council is undermining his credibility as a member of Croke Park's Hurling Development Committee.

O'Reilly has been vocal in his dismay at what he sees as the "downgrading" of the provincial hurling final, this weekend's meeting of Antrim and Derry, to a Saturday evening.

"I go down to meetings like an Ulster version of The Emperor's New Clothes. I'm talking to some of the kings of the game on that committee and trying to argue for promotion of the game in weaker counties and yet in my own province hurling is being downgraded and no longer has the same status as football."

The decision to stage the Ulster final on a Saturday rather than a Sunday marks the first time that this has happened since the province revived its hurling championship in 1989.

Belfast's Casement Park, the established venue for Ulster hurling, has played host to a glut of football matches in recent weeks. O'Reilly believes that the changed arrangements will impact on tomorrow's event.

"People are going to be denied the opportunity to see this game because they can't get there on a Saturday or else they'll see it in a rush. This isn't just about the two counties involved.

"The provincial final is meant to be providing a profile for the game in the North. If the Ulster final isn't doing that, God knows what else is going to do it."

This Sunday sees the Ulster football semi-final between Antrim and Tyrone take place at Casement. O'Reilly feels the tie should have been scheduled for earlier in order to allow the hurling final pride of place in the weekend's programme.

And O'Reilly hopes that this year's arrangements don't become the norm.

"I believe that no dialogue has taken place on this matter and no dialogue has even been sought. I hope before next year's calendar is drawn up that the Ulster Council can sit down and that common sense will prevail.

"If that doesn't happen the only conclusion to be drawn is that the council feels that hurling can't generate the same sort of financial return as football.

"If so, hurling is going to be buried forever and that will be a terrible indictment of those who are there to promote the game."