Incoming GAA president Sean McCague yesterday described An Bord Pleanala's decision to impose seating on the new Hill 16 development as "baffling and inexplicable."

The successor to Joe McDonagh was speaking at the official Bank of Ireland launch of the 1999 football championship in the RDS yesterday.

He wondered at the objection to a plan which had been consistent with stipulations laid down by "professional and technical independent opinions, by the city fathers and Dublin Corporation, by the professional and technical advisers to An Bord Pleanala and by all five of the residents' associations."

It was, he said, "difficult to comprehend the thought process which flew in the face of this collective opinion."

McCague declared that the "association had overcome adversity and opposition and agendas in the past" and concluded that he was "confident it would do so again."

Yesterday's address marked McCague's inaugural speech as president elect.

He stressed that corporate sponsorship had played an integral part in the evolution of the GAA in recent years, particularly in relation to the revamping of Croke Park.

"It is sometimes forgotten that the era of planning and studying the Croke Park redevelopment is associated with a time of extreme economic depression and uncertainty," he said.

The Minister for Sport, Dr Jim McDaid, highlighted the incorporation of the women's Gaelic football and camogie championships within the official sponsorship sphere.

"I would not be surprised if their championships were to prove comparable in drawing-power to the men's over the next decade," he said.

Bank of Ireland were celebrating 21 years of sponsorship with the GAA, beginning with the All-Stars in 1979 and culminating in their sponsorship of the football championship from 1994.

A special award was presented to GAA director general Liam Mulvihill for his contribution to the association over many years.