Beware of the silent majority

There were enough sub-plots flying around in the Raheen Woods on Monday to fill a series of blockbusters but by the end of the night Galway GAA delegates had given the green light to move their hurlers into Leinster.

The players, in the sort of move that makes traditionalists worry, had come out on Monday morning calling for the move to Leinster to be supported.

Now a delegation — some of them vehemently opposed to the move — will go to Croke Park on Saturday to make the case for Galway's inclusion in next year's championship.

It is a far from done-deal. After all, Offlay, Wexford, Dublin and Westmeath have already made it clear they don't want Galway in their province.

So, what happens if the move is rejected at Special Congress? The Galway Hurling chairman Miko Ryan has made it clear he is against the move, the secretary John Fahey is for it, the Central Council delegate Bernie O'Connor is opposed to it, the players are '100% behind it', former County Board chairmen Frank Burke and Gerry Cloherty don't want it to happen, but Galway manager Ger Loughnane believes it is the only way forward.

There is, quite clearly, a major crack down the middle and that's before we get to thorny subject of manager Loughnane having to go before Hurling Board delegates for ratification in the coming weeks. Anyone listening to the hour and a quarter debate on Monday night, when only Fahey and Galway senior captain David Collins spoke in favour of the move to Leinster, would have imagined the proposal would be heavily defeated.

The key, though, was when it came to the decision whether to decide on the issue by show of hands of by secret ballot. There was overwhelming support to make the decision anonymously and from there on there was only going to be one outcome.

The silent majority had spoken and they may do so a few more times before this year is out.

They said it

"We don't normally have police at our matches unless one happens to wander up on his bike" — Salisbury Town official after the non-league club drew Millwall and their hooligan fans in the FA Cup in 1979.

It happened on this day

1st October 1975: Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali did battle in the much publicised 'Thrilla in Manila' bout to decide the heavyweight title. It was the third meeting between the two men and with the score at one-apiece a lot of pride was at stake. Ali, the defending champion, emerged the victor at the end of 14 rounds when Frazier was not allowed out of his corner for the final round.

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