Kildare GAA chairman confirms Naas GAA statement on IHC final was 'factually incorrect'
Mick Mullen also emphasised that whatever the CCC decide we will have to wait and see, but in fairness to Naas we have to wait for the outcome of that
The controversial decision by Naas GAA to concede the 2026 UMPC Intermediate Hurling Championship final to Leixlip was the hot topic of discussion in the final meeting of the grassroots of Kildare GAA prior to Convention which took place on Tuesday, November 3
The Leinster Leader shared the news on Thursday, October 29 that Naas had conceded this year’s IHC final to Leixlip citing their inability to fulfil the fixture to the CCC.
Chairman, Mick Mullen, made it clear from the outset that while the matter is still being considered by the CCC he did not want to prejudice the outcome of that, so would not be making too much comment on it.
Noel McKenna, Chairman of the CCC, said he was very aware that the CCC was still looking into what unfolded that but nevertheless gave a timeline of the proceedings, the emails, the toing and froing, as it became clear, due to the incoming storms games could be under pressure that weekend, taking into consideration all the teams involved in the various fixtures.
And while the IHC final was eventually re-arranged for the Sunday morning (11am in Hawkfield), Naas eventually indicated that would not be in a position to fulfill the fixture.
Notices were sent out informing one and all the game was awarded to Leixlip and while Naas did come back an hour or so later, it was of the opinion of the CCC that the game had been awarded to Leixlip and that would not change.
Leixlip chairman Tom Melville said in an interview with the Leinster Leader last week that players and members had reached out and were very disappointed with the respect Naas GAA is giving to both the IHC and the players of both teams.
Tom Melville, speaking at the County Board meeting further expressed his, and his club’s absolute anger at Leixlip being denied the opportunity to play in a county final, saying he has never heard of any club, anywhere, conceding a game at this level, denying players an opportunity to play in a final, a final they had been preparing for and had planned for for months, that he said, would not happen in any other dual county.
Chairman Mick Mullen intervened to say that “it was not Kildare GAA that called the match off and said that Kildare GAA did everything possible to ensure that the game went ahead, adding that everything that Noel McKenna (Chairman CCC) has said was factual.
Mr Mullen said that when a postponement is requested and the clubs agree there is never a problem, adding “I have never seen in all my time in the GAA a game of that magnitude being conceded.”
The chairman said that a statement sent out (by Naas GAA) on the matter was “factually incorrect” but emphasised that whatever the CCC decide we will have to wait and see, but in fairness to Naas we have to wait for the outcome of that, adding justice must be seen to be done, fairly and squarely.
We are disappointed, it is not a good look for Kildare GAA and the picture is being painted that it is Kildare GAA where the fault lies but I can tell you that Kildare GAA did everything in their power to get a resolution to this issue the chairman added.
”I and everyone at this top table have supported hurling and will continue to support hurling and anyone that suggests otherwise is totally out of order and simply wrong.”
Leixlip GAA and Naas GAA are both preparing for respective Leinster championship outings this weekend with the former challenging Turin (Westmeath) in the provincial JHC while Naas welcome Offaly champions Kilcormac-Killoughey to Cedral St Conleht’s Park.