O'Neill insists no more debate on new sideline regulations

Croke Park will not be entertaining any further debate on the controversial new sideline regulations, which according to GAA president Liam O’Neill is a “non-issue” that “has been dealt with”, and there won’t be any revisiting of the matter this year.

“It is not an issue out there,” says O’Neill, “only an issue in certain newspapers, and only one county has spoken to me about this and not surprisingly that was Kilkenny. I have responded to the two doctors and that’s it, as far as I am concerned, it is a non-issue. I bought it to Central Council, Central Council made a decision and that decision was reaffirmed at Central Council. So this is a non-issue for me. It has been dealt with.”

Speaking at the latest joint venture between the GAA and the Gaelic Players Association, the launch of new online shop gaelicboots.com, O'Neill also confirmed there would no revisiting the issue in 2013, in either football or hurling. "The position is that I am charged now to articulate the decision taken by Central Council and that's it. There are no grounds on which it can (be revisited). The decision has been taken for the year, those regulations cannot be changed."

Commenting on Sunday’s poorly-attended interprovicial football final in Croke Park, O’Neill was adamant the competition would continue, as would the charity link with the Children’s hospital in Crumlin. “We are committed to it because the players want it. We started out with this three-year venture, that guarantees the continuation of the series for three years. Other than promote it, I don’t really want to hear people talk about it. If people are willing to give suggestions on how it can be promoted I am willing to listen . . .”