By John Harrington

Leinster GAA has no plans to allow Galway play home matches in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship.

Galway have competed in Leinster since 2009 and have played all their matches away from home.

“That came up again this year and it was voiced at Leinster Council meeting,” says Leinster GAA Chairman, John Horan.

“There is no change within the body of Leinster Council and Galway have met the officers, they’ve met the Management Committee and they’ve come and met the full council, but the counties are just of the view.

“I think if Galway had Ballinasloe in shape. I think part of it is going as far as Salthill is partially the problem, it’s just the distance. You are going nearly the width of Galway to it.

“We have discussed that every year and there is no change."

Horan points out that even though Galway don’t benefit from being able to play Leinster Championship matches in Salthill, they are financially compensated for travelling to other venues.

“Galway do get financial recompense over and above everybody else in Leinster for the fact they are in the Championship, so they do get a grant every year for they don’t get a home game in Galway where they say they could get ground rent or revenue,” he says.

“There is consideration given to them. It’s not just a case that we are not going to Galway, and there you are. They have been looked after.

“They got 20k per year for the last couple of years, which other Leinster counties wouldn’t have.

“They have been looked after financially. They get their travel expenses as well. There is a 20 grand top up, they’ve been given. That is the story that is not told.”

Currently the Galway senior and intermediate hurling teams are the only ones from the county that compete in Leinster.

The U-21 and minor teams still enter the All-Ireland series without a provincial match, and there is no immediate prospect of them being admitted into the Leinster Championship.

“In terms of their minors coming in, the same thing, no change,” says Horan.

“They have won more minor All-Irelands than the rest of Leinster put together since 1989. So, no, I don’t see a change in mood there at all.”