“Will hurling forever be the black sheep” - Mayo club on lack of minor final venue

There is great frustration in Westport hurling circles after the club was informed that their upcoming Mayo Minor Final against Tooreen will not take place in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park.

The pitch in the stadium was the venue for last Saturday's U-21A football final between Claremorris and Westport, but the gates were then shut to allow remedial work be carried out on the ground.

The minor hurlers of Westport and Tooreen are now ready to battle it out for the county title, but they've been told the game will not take place in the county ground.

This has been met with great disappointment according to the Westport management team.

“We expected the final to be played in MacHale Park, as it should be, but the county board have other ideas.

"We feel this is highly disrespectful of hurling people in the county and if the shoe was on the other foot the gates would be kept open for a football final.

“We have been in contact with Tooreen's management team and they have contacted the county board too to express their disappointment.”

In correspondence, seen by The Mayo News, the reason for closing the gates has been set out by Mayo GAA.

“Unfortunately, for you, we are closing MacHale Park after the under-21 A final on Saturday. The B and C (football) finals will not be played there. We have a lot of remedial work to carry out on the pitch.”

This has not been received well by the Westport minor hurling management who have reacted with great annoyance.

'As a management team, a hurling club, and hurling people we feel disrespected by the county board in this decision

'The decision to not delay the start of remedial works for one week to allow a hurling final to be played, again highlights the attitude Mayo County Board has toward the game of hurling.

'This is an ongoing issue and does nothing but stunt the development of hurling within the county.

'Until this is rooted out from within the county board, hurling will forever be the black sheep.

'Volunteers around the county give their time and effort to develop hurling in the county and for it to be continuously stifled by a 'head in the sand' county board is disheartening.

'The message needs to be sent loud and clear to the county board of Mayo that hurling is here to stay.

'We're of the opinion that a rising tide lifts all boats, so when we see decision after decision like this go against hurling in the county, it's hard not to conclude that they'd prefer if we kicked a football around instead.”

Mayo GAA have stated that urgent remedial works needs to be carried out on the pitch in MacHale Park in preparation for the 2026 season.

The Mayo News understands that Westport have contacted William Maher, the GAA's National Head of Hurling and made their frustration clear.

It remains to be seen when the final will be played, as of last night, Monday, there was no time, date or venue fixed for the decider.