Meath agree to Ring Cup replay.....But

While Meath have agreed to replay the Christy Ring Cup final against Antrim they have done so with a couple of conditions including a change of date and venue.

In a statement released at tonight's Co Board meeting in Syddan Meath GAA PRO Martin O'Halloran confirmed that following a discussion between the hurling team management and the players and and after relaying their concerns to the Executive Committee of Meath Co Board, Meath will agree to replaying the Ring Cup final in Croke Park on Saturday 18th June.

'We are happy to confirm that Meath, in the interest of hurling and fair play, will agree to replay the Christy Ring Cup hurling final against Antrim,' O'Halloran told the delegates at tonight's meeting.

'We have requested that with regard to play welfare and appropriate preparation, the game be played on Saturday 18thJune. We have also requested that this game be played in Croke Park as befits the status of a national final.'

It is expected that the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) will consider Meath's proposal tomorrow morning (Thursday). However, there could be a spanner in the works as Antrim are scheduled to play Derry in the Ulster SHC semi-final on Sunday 19th June, the day after Meath's proposed replay.

Before O'Halloran made his statment to the delegates Co Board chairman Conor Tormey was wholsesome in his praise of the Meath hurling team.

'I do want to congratulate the lads on their efforts last Saturday. I don't want the controversy to take away from what they done on the pitch. Anybody that was up there supporting them on the day, and the support was brilliant, the lads were brilliant, they were down by nine points at one stage.

'I think everyone who was at the match would think the same as I would, I just want to say congratulations. I don't want to let the moment go, I know there's a replay on the cards, but I couldn't let the moment go without thanking the lads and saying well done last Saturday,' concluded Tormey.

Trim delegate Noel Dempsey question was any apology forthcoming from croke Park for the handling of the situation last Saturday.

'Was there any apology issued by Croke Park? I know it mightn't be the most diplomatic thing to be saying when we're issuing that statement, but I think for everybody that was there, for the effort that was put in by both teams, it's just not good enough that paid officials could make a total mess of something like that. I think we should ask them for an apology, to both teams.'

Co Board secretary Francis Flynn confirmed that an apology was received from Croke Park.

'I got an email from the secretary of the CCCC in Croke Park this morning stating 'At the outset, I would like to take this opportunity to apologise unreservedly to everyone involved in Meath hurling for the issue in relation to score keeping which has over shadowed all other matters since Saturday evening. I am keenly aware of the impact that this has had on you all, most particularly on a personal level for the Meath players, management and support team. As I mentioned to you yesterday, I'm happy to explore any avenues which you think might assist in this regard. In relation to the specific issues you have raised, we are currently reviewing why the logo was incorrect for a time. This clearly should not have happened'.'

Meath Co Board vice-chairman Peter O'Halloran suggested that all hurling championship games scheduled for this weekend would now have to be postponed, but fixtures secretary Jimmy Henry stated after the meeting that that might not be the case and there would be no formal decision regarding postponing games made until tomorrow at the earliest.