Croke Park made decision on Minor B eligibility months-ago

In a new twist to the ongoing saga over Westmeath's non-participation in this year's All-Ireland minor 'B' hurling championship, Croke Park have confirmed that it was they - not Westmeath GAA - who had the final say on the matter.

Croke Park fixtures administrator Bernard Smith told the Westmeath Examiner this morning that when Westmeath qualified for the semi-final of the Leinster MHC with an historic win over Wexford on May 9, fixtures officials at Headquarters deemed the Lake County ineligible for the Minor 'B'.

Mr Smith said that earlier in the year, Westmeath were "provisionally" fixed to play Donegal in the quarter-finals of the Minor 'B'.

But their progress to the last four of Leinster's premier minor hurling competition prompted officials to decide that the Lake County are above the standard of Minor 'B', which starts in August.

Westmeath's participation in the All-Ireland Minor 'B' competition - which is intended to assist certain counties with their progress in minor hurling - is a "legacy issue", Mr Smith explained.

When the Maroons dismantled Wexford away from home in the Leinster quarter-final, however, their progress was seen as sufficient to allow Down to take their place in the All-Ireland Minor 'B' competition. Down are fixed to play Donegal on the August Bank Holiday weekend.

The issue is at the centre of a much publicised dispute between Westmeath GAA's county board and the Lake County's minor hurling manager, Johnny Greville, which erupted in recent days.

Greville took to Twitter yesterday and claimed that the Lake County had withdrawn from the competition due to a lack of jerseys.

Yesterday evening however, the county board denied this, and insisted that as Westmeath had distinguished themselves at the highest level of minor hurling this year, the county shouldn't participate in 'B' tournaments.

The board said that the idea that Westmeath had pulled out of a tournament was "disingenuous" as the county had not been entered in the Minor 'B' in the first place.

"We are very disappointed with the manner in which this has arisen in the media through Twitter," read the board's statement, issued last night.

"We appreciate that people become passionate about matters in which they believe strongly in but we do expect everyone to have their facts correct.

"In relation to the matter of jerseys and appropriate gear for the Minor team and for all of our teams in both Hurling and Football, Westmeath GAA do like all our fellow County committees endeavour to support all the players who don our County Colours.

"Certainly after the Leinster Minor Hurling Semi final [against Dublin], a set of jerseys went missing which was unacceptable.

"There has to be pride in wearing one's colours and we expect all players who represent Westmeath to have the pride in them to retain their colours at all times."

Greville is not backing down however, and the board's statement was countered by the Raharney clubman.

Greville said that at the start of the year, he had requested that officials register Westmeath in both the Leinster MHL and the All-Ireland Minor 'B'.

"At no point was it "communicated accordingly" to me that we were not competing in the All Ireland Minor B Championship," Greville's response read last night.

"I received no email, phone call or letter or any other form of communication to relay this information to me.

"The County Board may have to revise their Communication strategy, as I'm not yet equipped for telepathy/mindreading!

"I would hate for people to think I was being "disingenuous" but I can only work with what is communicated to me."

Greville added that as minor manager, he should have been included in or responsible for the decision to enter the Minor 'B', "whether with a Development Squad or our Full Squad".

Furthermore, with regard to the jersey "debacle", Greville said that it was reported to him that a meeting of Westmeath Minor GAA Board on July 9, a minor board official was quoted as saying that Westmeath's Minor 'B' participation was reneged on "as we do not have any jerseys".

The controversy has gone viral on social media, and received considerable coverage on the national broadcast media this morning.