RTE's Des Cahill splits opinion with complaint about GAA schedule as climax of inter-county season nears
Whilst Donegal and
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Waterford defeated Clare by 1-18 to 0-10
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Cahill felt it should've been given a more prominent slot in the calendar
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Many people feel minor deciders should revert to being the curtain-raiser to the senior equivalent
Credit: @sportsdes
While congratulating the Déise's young crop, the former Sunday Game host vented at those behind the GAA's inter-county schedule.
He tweeted: "Huge Congrats to Waterford on winning the All-Ireland Minor Hurling title. Great display. Hard luck Clare.
"But WHO DECIDED to put this on at the same time as the two big football games in Croke Park??"
The response to his post was interestingly mixed. Some were equally vexed as Carmel agreed: "Crazy Des. Feels very disrespectful to the minors.
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"It was always such a great sense of occasion having the minor final before the seniors and for them to play their final on the biggest hurling day and stage.
"Even better when teams from the same counties in both finals."
Similarly, Simon called for a return to the way it once was. He posted: "The minor final should be curtain raiser to senior final like it was."
Lastly, Sean raged: "Absolutely scandalous. A novel pairing in an All-Ireland minor final and clashing with knock-out football matches. So much for promoting the games."
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However, there were others who felt it was a perfectly reasonable time to place the contest between Waterford and Clare.
One reply with 33 likes argued: "How many people in Clare and Waterford were interested in the football quarter-finals?
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"Whoever wanted to be in Thurles was in Thurles, more to life than Dublin football Des.
"I doubt there was too many folk from Donegal, Monaghan and Tyrone were interested in the minor hurling final."
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Secondly, Uria claimed: "Why are the people constantly complaining always the neutrals who wouldn't go to that game anyway. The people that it mattered to went to it."
Neil also added: "What neutral is going to go to that Des?"
James 'Joxer' O'Connor hailed Cormac Spain after his heavenly 11-point haul inspired Waterford to glory.
Spain even played through the pain barrier for the Déise during his out-of-this-world display — as he was forced to nurse a hamstring injury.
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Boss O'Connor revealed: 'He got problems from a hamstring early on. It was just about bearable for him to play so he kept going. You don't want to come off in an All-Ireland final.
'I wouldn't take him off unless I really felt he had to come off.
He played through the pain. That's what you do in All-Irelands.
He won't feel that in the morning!
'He has an All-Ireland medal in his back pocket. That's the dream.'
SPAIN JOY
Spain finished the Championship with a staggering 8-75 in eight outings — which was an average of 12 points per game as he ripped the soul out of many opposition teams.
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Corner-back Darragh Keane was another driving force behind the Déise's ascension into heaven.
But O'Connor hailed a squad effort during a heroic display in Thurles.
He added: 'I thought all of the backs were outstanding.
'I'll be honest with you. Some of the heroics in the last ten or 15 minutes were just unbelievable altogether.
'There put their bodies on the line and they were throwing themselves in front of hurleys and sliotars. It was unbelievable to watch.
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'They'd make you proud and there's no point in saying otherwise.
There's no prouder man in Thurles than me.'
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