GAELIC GAMES:THE STAND-OFF between seven intercounty GAA managers and RTÉ is, apparently, over.

The managers had refused to conduct interviews with the state broadcaster as a form of protest at the perceived ill-treatment of commentator Brian Carthy.

However, Tyrone manager Mickey Harte is quoted in a newspaper yesterday’s as saying: “There are a few things I want to clear up. For much of last week we have read nothing but easy-street and lazy journalism. People got an opinion, hopped on a bandwagon and basically ran with this notion that we were holding RTÉ over a barrel or holding them to ransom. That is absolutely so far off the mark.

“Did anyone bother to try to source the letter we sent RTÉ? Where does it say in the letter that we tried to tell RTÉ what to do?

“The strongest tone we used in that letter was that we respectfully requested a chat with them so we could get our views on Brian across. There was no anger or ultimatum. We were concerned about it and so a group of us decided to do something about it.”