CURRAGH CEO Derek McGrath was measured in his response earlier this week to the GAA’s decision to let the Kildare and Tyrone All-Ireland Football qualifier clash with today’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

“A request was made that the match be played later, or on another day, but that was denied and we have to respect that,” he said.

If it was this column in the front line, the comment would go more along the lines of “what a lousy band of self-centred *****. Could they not act in the common good for the county’s sports fans?”

The GAA showed little regard for their own fans who also like racing. An excuse was offered that the Féile Peile na nÓg in Galway would deplete resourses in Mayo but it’s laughable that an organistation this big could not have enough stewards or find them from surrounding counties for a national event and leave those who needed go to Castlebar.

Knowing for many months that the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby is scheduled to go off at 5.20, they could have taken this into account and maximise the attendance at both events.

Many of the same people will want to go to both events. Sporting bodies should work together in the common interests of sports fans.