GAA chiefs are to lodge an official complaint against Croke Park and the GAA following the pitch invasion fiasco on All-Ireland Sunday in Croke Park.
County board secretary, Ned Quinn, told the Kilkenny Advertiser that Kilkenny officials are in favour of the traditional methods of presenting the trophy to the winning team, which means allowing the supporters access to the pitch once the game is over.
GAA chiefs in Kilkenny were up in arms after the All-Ireland hurling final against Tipperary when fans were denied access to the pitch following the final whistle.
Croke Park officials decided in advance to have the Liam McCarthy cup presented on a make-shift podium in the centre of the pitch. However, thousands of supporters ignored the wishes of the GAA and swarmed onto the pitch regardless. Plan B was quickly put into effect so that the presentation was made in the Hogan Stand which was the original custom.
County board officials believe that fans should be permitted onto the pitch for the presentation of the cup to the winning team as it is safer for everyone concerned.
They claim that there were attacks and counter-attacks between fans and stewards on the day in question and that a very dangerous situation could have developed.
At the county board meeting on Monday this week, emotions ran high and it became clear that this complaint would not blow over easily. It was decided that a letter of complaint would be written to the GAA and the concerns of the board would be outlined.
The GAA has yet to respond to the complaint which was only recently lodged.
