New President boasts strong Cork connections

There were many firsts at last Saturday’s GAA Congress.

A first to be held remotely, a first overseas President takes office and a first where all 38 motions on the ‘clar’ were passed.

In fact Cork County Board supported all 38 motions must also constitute a record as in the past we as a county have not always been so supportive of motions, especially those emanating from Croke Park as several were on Saturday last.

Much attention focussed on a couple of crucial motions but a number of others that passed were interesting.

All-Ireland semi-finals at under 20 hurling level are no longer and with Galway now competing in Leinster. The provincial champions from Munster and Leinster will now meet in the final, as there is no Ulster championship in this grade.

The Junior Football Championship also makes a return and will feature New York, Kilkenny and the British champions and runners-up.

I presume that the respective provincial championship at this grade will return although in Munster the last time it was played, it was just Cork v Kerry in a final. It’s disappointing that the other counties opted not to participate; was it a lack of interest in football that prompted such a decision?

Joint captains are no more, and while there has been much comment on it, it’s a motion I agreed with - surely a manager or selection committee should have enough faith in one individual to lead the team, and if not, well change it for the next season.

Director General Tom Ryan said: “it was simply tidying up match day presentation”, something the GAA have improved on immeasurably in recent years.

Similarly the role of the maor foirne is also no more, this will challenge the manager and coach to get important message into players especially in tight games, but as always they will adapt and cope.

From 2023, all counties will have to limit their championship from intermediate up to just 16 teams. Galway and Tipperary spoke strongly against this motion but to no avail. Cork at both Premier Senior Hurling and Football have more than 16 teams in an ordinary year, with the participation of the divisions along with CIT and UCC.

Last year was different with the majority of divisions opting out, but content that they could play in this year’s championship if they choose to do so, a facility no club had. I accept it was an unusual year, but choosing when to and when not to play in our flagship championship does little for the profile of the competition in my opinion.

That aside, Cork CEO Kevin O’Donovan was of the view that it would not be a problem for the county as under the present structure, the colleges and divisions are playing for the right to play in the championship proper, but they will probably seek clarification from Croke Park on the matter.

The two motions that generated most debate were the split season and sin bin in hurling.

The split season is to be welcomed and how it worked last year prompted its introduction with outgoing President John Horan and Tom Ryan fully supportive. Indeed it could very well be John Horan’s legacy as his term ends, and the new Uachtarann Larry McCarthy also welcomed the move.

What it means is that players, especially club players and officials can now plan their year, in terms of holidays and other family events, knowing that their championship won’t start until July or August depending on the progress or otherwise of the inter-county team.

A big change coming then in 2022 with a 29 week inter-county season culminating with the All-Ireland Finals in July, this will not please some of the traditionalists, but we are in changed times and we must adapt.

A couple of issues; inter-county players, once their championship ambitions are over, will they stay around or head for pastures new, mostly the USA to play and in the process earn a few bob? Hopefully that won’t happen.

Pressure will now be on county boards to complete their competitions in time for the respective provincial club championship. It will leave a window of 14 or 15 weeks to get it done, it will add extra pressure on dual clubs of which there are many in Cork, weather and postponements for various reasons must also be factored in.

On balance though, it’s a good move and hopefully it will work to everyone’s advantage, especially the clubs who have been the ones to suffer most as the inter-county season grew and grew in recent years.

Interestingly on the back of this motion being passed, a specially convened meeting of the Club Players Association’s Executive on Monday night took the decision to disband, 50 months after their formation, content that what they set out to do - secure a better deal for players - has been achieved.

The sin bin will be in hurling when action resumes, hopefully in a few weeks time, now that the numbers appear to be going in the right direction, for a trial period of one year.

It did meet with opposition, including the Gaelic Players Association, but strong views expressed by some high profile speakers including Offaly Chairman Michael Duignan helped get the motion over the line.

It was also interesting to read that top referee Fergal Horgan had no issues with its implementation.

Defenders will now need to be at their best, as conceding cynical fouls will have consequences in terms of 10 minutes in the bin, and a penalty if the foul is committed when denying a clear goal scoring opportunity.

The opening games of the league will test players, management and especially referees, but if everyone buys into the new rule, it could rid both codes of the type of fouls that will make games a better spectacle.

One of the motions that was not discussed related to the format for the All-Ireland Football Championship, it was felt as this was likely to generate a lively debate it was deferred until later in the year, where it is hoped delegates will be in attendance.

In other news

Congratulations to the four Cork players who made the TG4 Ladies Football Team of the Year, Martina O’Brien, Melissa Duggan, Eimear Meaney and Aine Terry O’Sullivan - all well deserved.

An interesting development ahead of this week’s Ladies Football Annual Congress which will be held remotely, is a motion from the Cork County Board in relation to the formation of divisional teams in the county championship has been deferred until later in the year, because it is expected to generate a strong debate.

The motion from Cork apparently contravenes a Ladies Football bye-law, which requires change.

The consequences for reigning county champions West Cork Ladies is that if the Cork championship starts before the Congress can debate the issue, they might not get an opportunity to defend their title, and even if they do, they could be with a somewhat depleted team.

Well done to all who participated in the Cork Camogie Board’s Caman Corcaigh, it was a resounding success, with both the Board and Jigsaw Cork benefitting from the finance raised.

Thanks also to Lord Mayor Joe Kavanagh who formally launched the event last Friday in the company of Board Officers and Gemma O’Connor, while the Lady Mayoress was also present and appropriately wore red.

Congratulations and best wishes to Glenville/Watergrasshill clubman John Halbert on his appointment to the CCCC by new President Larry McCarthy, this is one of the GAA’s most important committees and to be given a position on it reflects well on John’s contribution to his club over many years, he will represent both club and county with distinction.

Stay safe and take care.