LIAM DUNNE has slammed the GAA’s decision to fix the Wexford hurlers’ and footballers’ key All-Ireland championship Qualifiers this Saturday at separate venues that are some 86 miles apart – thus eliminating any possibility of Lee Chin aiding both outfits.

The hurlers’ big battle with Clare for a quarter-final spot is down for Thurles at 5p.m. – but the footballers will be some distance away, at PearsePark in Longford, and while their game throws-in at 7p.m., there is no chance of Chin achieving his wish of trying to help advance Wexford’s cause on both fronts.

“The GAA are fantastic at shooting themselves in the foot,” Dunne states. “Our ‘great’ Association is on about stopping inter-county players going toAmerica once the provincial championships are over when they would be better off looking after the players that actually want to play.

“For all their talking about supporting the dual player, it is staggering to find them fixing two games involving the same county on the same day. They have really covered themselves in glory in Wexford this week. But, I suppose we don’t really count. You are only a pawn when you are a player,” the Wexford manager suggests, adding: “I think this decision is disrespectful to the Wexford County Board and our footballers and hurlers. Nobody cares about us, well not until we start getting back up the ladder.”

It remains to be seen who Chin lines-out for on Saturday, although fingers are crossed right now that he will actually start and come through okay for the under-21 hurlers in tomorrow’s (Wednesday’s) Leinster final against Kilkenny at Wexford Park as Chin continues to nurse a knee problem.

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