Wexford slate Brennan

THE WEXFORD County Board unleashed a scathing attack on GAA president Nickey Brennan yesterday in reaction to the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) decision to reject their recent appeal on a "technicality". Wexford sought to overturn the result of their National Hurling League match with Cork and in turn avoid relegation to Division Two.

They sought the disqualification of Cork on the grounds that "Ard Comhairle CLG on January 26th issued a match-day regulation wherein it decreed that in the event of a team failing to complete two games in either hurling or football then that team would be automatically disqualified from the current National League".

This, however, did not come to pass once the striking Cork players and county board reached an agreement through mediation earlier this year.

In a statement released yesterday evening, the Wexford board directly attacked the GAA central management and Brennan over his comment at congress when he called upon county boards to desist from seeking legal loopholes when appealing disciplinary action.

"One has to question both the president and Croke Park's rationale in their use of 'technicalities' to prevent the tribunal from hearing the substantive issue in this case. This is the same president who implored county boards and their representatives, at congress in Sligo just two weeks ago, to accept rulings of Croke Park and not to seek to circumvent them by means of 'technicalities' or other loopholes. Yet in this instance every effort was made by Croke Park to deprive Wexford County Board of a hearing by use of the very same methods as the president implored county boards not to use. Is this not hypocrisy in the extreme?"

The Wexford board also accused Croke Park of withholding documents until 8pm on the night of the hearing.

The CAC dismissed Wexford's initial appeal because of time constraints.

The county board statement added: "On a broader note one has to question the value of the Disputes Resolution Authority in the circumstances where the very body who set it up seek to use 'technicalities' and other means to prevent it carrying out the function it was set up for. This is a matter for another day."

Brennan opted not to comment when contacted about this matter yesterday evening.