CARLOW boss Colm Bonner has accused the GAA of failing to promote hurling in the lower counties and says many of the games in the middle tier deserve more television exposure.
Bonner’s criticism comes in the wake of the news that tomorrow’s Christy Ring final between Carlow and Antrim, as well as the Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher deciders, will not be screened on terrestrial TV.
TG4 usually offer ‘live’ coverage of these finals but can only provide ‘live’ streaming because RTE’s Munster SFC semi-final between Tipperary and Cork clashes with the Christy Ring final (both 5pm throw-ins).
“The GAA could promote hurling better, most definitely,” said Bonnar.
“Even our Division Two final against Antrim up in Pairc Esler, the conditons were poor, there was heavy rain. Hurling demands a good sod and when you see the Division One, Two, Three and Four Football finals going to Croke Park and they’re pushing us to the side, that’s disappointing.
“They’re not giving it the publicity it deserves. The likes of Carlow and Antrim are doing so much to promote the game.
“But to promote it the GAA needs to create more interest, and to create more interest you need more publicity.
“There have been some terrific games between ourselves and Antrim. We had a marvellous game in the Christy Ring group stages in Dr Cullen Park.
“If something like that was televised that would really promote hurling at this level. It was a very high-scoring game and great quality from both sides.
“If you’re going to promote it they are the games to show. We’re definitely in the shade.
“That game was as good as any game I’ve seen this year and yet there was so little made of it. I didn’t see any TV cameras at that game.”
He added: “They should show highlights of our games for about 15 minutes at least… It’s not just about Division 1A and 1B; it’s about the teams trying to get promoted into it.”
Carlow have played Antrim three times already this season – twice in Division 2A (one draw) and once in the Christy Ring group stages – but the Leinster men have yet to record a win over the Ulster champions.
Despite not clinching the deal in any of their meetings with Antrim, Bonnar rejects the notion that Carlow will be extra-motivated because of this season’s narrative between the counties.
“No, every game takes on a life of its own,” said the Carlow manager.
“We’ve had three games with Antrim so far and we’ve failed to turn them over.
“We can’t dwell on that. It’s a new game. There’s no score on the board and we just have to keep going as hard as we can and for as long as we can and hopefully by the end we’ll have out-scored them.
“We haven’t done that yet. On possibly two occasions we looked like we were in the driving seat but Antrim were able to come back.
“We’ve learned but we still haven’t learned enough to getting over the finishing line. I expect this game to go to the wire again.”
Bonnar hailed the man-of-the-match performance of Neil McManus as the Cushendall clubman engineered a last-gasp victory for the Saffrons in their epic Christy Ring meeting on April 22.
“He did the simple things and he did them well. He caught a ball and got a penalty out of it. He got another and with quick vision he gave the right pass, and the next thing it was in the back of the net.
“Hurling is not rocket science. Antrim have been good at giving it to the players in the best position and they’re good at engineering scores and they defend as intensely as they can when they don’t have the ball. It’s going to be a hell of a battle for who’s out there. But there’s no better place than at Croke Park.
“Our lads want to get their hands on the trophy just as much as Antrim do.
“There would be no surprises between the teams at this stage. We know their danger men and we know their full-forward line scored 4-14 the last day.”
