Cora Staunton backs Mayo hurlers' MacHale Park stance

Cora Staunton believes the Mayo hurlers have every right to feel aggrieved about being unable to play their upcoming Christy Ring Cup games at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park.

Derek Walsh's team take on Sligo in the fourth round of the competition this Saturday. If they win, and then beat Derry a week later, they will be into the final.

There is, however, deep frustration over the county board's refusal to allow the side to play those games at the newly resurfaced MacHale Park. They will instead head to James Stephens Park in Ballina.

The Mayo GAA board says they are simply following recommendations in relation to protecting the surface.

Staunton insisted the hurlers should be accommodated.

"If you've played ladies football at any stage you can certainly empathise with them," she said at the launch of the Bord Gáis Energy GAA Legends Tour Series.

"Unfortunately, in my time with Mayo, that was probably a very common theme, especially from the point of view of being able to train at MacHale Park.

"We obviously did play there, the Connacht final was there on a number of occasions. But yeah it’s very disappointing in this day and age where we’re talking about equality - whether it’s in women’s sport or within the GAA right across (the board). It’s disappointing that if you’re a county hurler in Mayo and you’re training for eight, nine, 10 months that you can’t play in your home ground.

"Then you hear on the back of it that the Mayo men’s footballers were training there. That’s disappointing - especially after the redevelopment of the pitch. It’s not as if we've had particularly bad weather the last while.

"My opinion is, whether you are a hurler, a footballer, a ladies footballer or camogie player, your home ground is your home