Thing of the past? . . . Kildare supporters desert the stands and take over the Croke Park pitch after last year's Leinster football final success over Meath. - (Photograph: Damien Eagers/Sportsfile).

A rise in the number of injuries suffered by supporters and subsequent legal actions have forced the GAA to introduce measures to prevent crowds teeming on to the field at Croke Park after major matches. The announcement was made at a press conference in Croke Park yesterday.

New measures were put in place for the Leinster hurling final and for last week's two All-Ireland hurling quarter-finals and, after the partial success of those measures, will now become a regular feature of major matches at Croke Park.

For the Leinster hurling final, a lap of honour by winners Kilkenny was organised and announced to the crowd before the final whistle. Supporters were asked to stay in their seats - and generally did - to facilitate the lap of honour.

As regards legal action following injuries to supporters, GAA commercial manager Ciaran O'Neill said yesterday: "We have had problems which I don't want to go into because some of them are subjudice, but we have to take all realistic precautions in order to protect our patrons. It would be the height of folly to allow the present situation to continue."

In an official GAA statement, it was stated that, "as in the Leinster hurling final, supporters will not be allowed on the pitch for the trophy presentation after the Leinster football final and subsequent games.

"This policy has been adopted by the Management Committee in the interest of supporters' safety and on the advice of the safety authorities. There has been an increasing number of injuries to supporters in recent years and the GAA has asked everyone to co-operate in the general interest." ??????????????an O'Neill pointed out that the decision was not intended to be a "spoilsport operation", but has been forced on the GAA by a combination of factors, mainly dictated by the safety authorities, including the Fire Brigade, Dublin Corporation, Garda Siochana, Eastern Health Board and St John Ambulance Brigade. Stewarding advice was also taken on board from their own employees. "It would not be a serious matter if only young, able-bodied people were coming onto the pitch for after-match celebrations," said O'Neill. "But the fact is that infants, young vulnerable people, as well as elderly people have come on to the pitch either voluntarily or were forced on by the numbers pouring on from stands and terraces and are put in danger of injury. "It is the mercy of God that we have not had any really serious injuries, but our expert advice is that we cannot allow it any longer. One serious accident is one too many.

"If you have 5,000 or 6,000 running all over the pitch it is inevitable that problems will arise. We are aware that people have done this for many years, but we have a huge responsibility to look after our patrons. It has nothing to do with protecting the grass or the pitch. It has to do with public safety and our responsibilities in this matter. "Last year we had 1,036,000 paying customers at Croke Park. It would be totally irresponsible for us to ignore the dangers which exist. We sincerely hope that people will understand our problems," O'Neill added.

Asked how the new approach could be implemented, he said it would be done as painlessly as possible. "We sincerely hope that we will get the co-operation of the public and that fencing will not be necessary. We hope to do it by way of extra stewarding and an extra Garda presence," he said.

GAA president Joe McDonagh insisted that there was no intention on the part of the GAA to interfere with celebrations or people's legitimate pleasure. "We have to protect the people who come in to watch our games and we hope that we will get the full co-operation of the public. We hope the people who come to our games will appreciate what we are trying to do," he said.

Munster Council secretary Donie Nealon, commenting on the move, pointed out the GAA was not its own master in the matter and alluded to the increase in litigation following accidents in public places. "Safety precautions such as these are being dictated from outside the association in response to the pressures of the modern world," he said. "I don't believe that there is much difference between when I was a player and now, but times change and the GAA does not have any alternative but to enforce what they are being told to do by the safety people," he said.

Current Cork hurling manager and dual All-Ireland medal-winner Jimmy Barry Murphy gave a guarded welcome to the proposal. "I believe that if people stayed in their places in the stands and on the terraces they would see more and enjoy the spectacle more than if they are on the pitch. I would also cut down on the length of the speeches," said the man who always allowed his hurling and football to do his talking for him.