Liam Miller’s former teammate and Cork City forward Karl Sheppard has hit out at the GAA’s decision not to allow Miller’s memorial match to be played at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Miller passed away in February after a prolonged battle with oesophogeal cancer. A memorial match between a team of Celtic and Manchester United legends was organised in his honour with the proceeds to be donated to his wife Clare and his three young children Kory, Leo and Belle as well as the Marymount Hospice, where he died.
The organisers of the memorial match confirmed that an approach had been made to the Cork county board with a view to hosting the match at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, however, the game has since been moved to Turner’s Cross after it was discovered that the county board were handtied by the GAA’s rules on foreign sports being played at Gaelic grounds.
It’s understood that the GAA could review the issue at their annual congress next spring with a number of athletes in both soccer and GAA hitting out at the decision and the association’s lack of urgency in reviewing the matter.
Every pitch except Croke Park has to go before Congress for permission for outside use. So even though Cork county board were open to letting the Liam Miller testimonial match go ahead in pairc Uí Chaiomh (45000) they can’t use it and it will be in Turners Cross (7000) my God
— Tomás Ó Sé (@tomas5ky) July 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/Jamwall7/status/1020095358691627008
Scandalous the Gaa wouldn’t allow the use of Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the Liam miller memorial match, Liam represented ireland from u15 all the way up to senior level and gave everything, shocking!!! No problem having Garth brooks or Neil diamond play Croker tho😏
— Andy Reid (@AndyReidXI) July 19, 2018
Karl Sheppard, who played with Miller during his lone season at Cork City in 2015, branded the GAA’s decision as shameful.
https://twitter.com/karlsheppard9/status/1020316914420199424
Miller’s memorial match will go ahead as scheduled on September 25 with Cork Lord Mayor Mick Finn lamenting the loss of the former Ireland midfielder.
#RoyKeane at the launch of the Liam Miller tribute events which take place on September 25th. Tickets for the match will go on sale Friday @TicketmasterIre @mickfinn01 @CorkCityFC @RyanGiggs_cc @rioferdy5 @paulscholes pic.twitter.com/JoD7R8buZr
— Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) July 18, 2018
“The Miller family suffered a devastating loss with Liam’s tragic passing earlier this year, and it is fantastic to see how the football community has responded so magnificently to this tribute match.
“I am sure that the people of Cork, and indeed the country, will also come out in force to support this great initiative. It promises to be a unique sporting event with so many greats of football set to take part.”
