Kilkenny captain Bill McDermott wins the Hanrahan Cup after his Leinster MHC side's final victory over Dublin at Laois Hire O'Moore Park in Portlaoise. Photo: Tom Beary/Sportfile
The GAA has doubled down on its policy of not allowing acceptance speeches from underage captains from the various provinces.
And it has also reminded TG4, which broadcasts the minor championships, that minor players cannot be interviewed after the match. The winning captains did not make an acceptance speech after the Connacht MFC final, in which Mayo defeated Roscommon, and the Leinster MHC final, where Kilkenny defeated Dublin. After presenting the cups, no microphones were given to the respective captains.
Croke Park issued a directive on this to county councils late last week, reminding them of a policy affecting U-18 players. Minor is a U-17 grade.
The guidance reminds counties that managers must be made available for interviews on behalf of the 'best and fairest' winners, the term now officially used to describe the 'man of the match'.
The policy has been in place for many years but is not always enforced, especially in some recent cases that attracted attention. In 2010, the GAA's National Awards and Presentation Committee, chaired at the time by current GAA President Jarlath Burns, made a recommendation that the practice of minor winning captains, then U-18, should stop.