Councillor calls for homecomings on day of finals

COUNCILLOR Ollie Turner is calling on the GAA to facilitate earlier throw-in times for All-Ireland finals to allow homecomings on the day of the game.

The Galway senior hurlers came up short in their bid to bring the Liam MacCarthy Cup back to the county for the first time since 2017 after losing to Limerick in July.

However, they were still given a hero’s welcome when arriving back into the Ballinasloe Fair Green for a homecoming attended by young and old.

The team stayed in Dublin after the game before travelling back to Galway the next day. Cllr Turner would like to see the GAA consider an earlier throw-in for finals, which would allow both teams to host their homecoming the same day as the match.

“I want to congratulate everyone involved with the homecoming in Ballinasloe. It was a great event that was very well attended,” commented the Tuam District Councillor during last month's meeting of Galway County Council.

“But wouldn’t it be fantastic if our team was able to come home to a hero’s welcome on the day of the match. There would be such a buzz around the county as the team made their way back to Galway.

“Plus, the money our team and supporters end up spending in Dublin would be much better placed in the pockets of local businesses.

“I know we have no skin in the game, but could we at least ask the GAA to consider moving the finals to an earlier time like 2pm to make homecomings on the evening of a big final possible.”