Editorial: Save our season!

What did you make of the way Cork won the Munster Hurling Final last weekend?

I’ve been very surprised at the extent of the annoyance about the penalty shootout that Cork won to end Limerick’s seven-in-a-row bid. If I was from Limerick, I might feel differently but I don’t see any problem with the use of a penalty shootout to find a winner after extra-time.

With the condensed nature of the inter county season, if you asked either team before the shootout, I’m not sure they would want a replay. And why is that?

They obviously would love to win the Munster Final but a replay would leave them more fatigued for their next match in the All-Ireland series - with the possibility of more injuries too. While they would rather not lose a penalty shootout, they may not wish for the alternative either.

Others have continuously pointed out that the inter county season is too short and too many teams are finished too early. While I have some sympathy for the likes of Clare, Waterford, Wexford and others, the reality is that most lost a lot of the games they played - especially Waterford.

Focussing on the time of the year that their season ended is a red herring. They’ve had multiple chances in the round robin series in Munster and Leinster to win enough games to get through. Of course, it’s very tough to get through in Munster but Clare and Waterford won 1 game each out of 4. How many chances do they want? I’d say the same if Cork missed out.

After five games, Wexford did win 3 games, the same as Dublin who went through, but they finished with a points difference of only +7 from 5 games. Leinster this year included Antrim and Offaly who are not at their strongest currently.

Club players deserve some sort of knowledge of when their key (championship) games are to take place.

Previously it was a nightmare for them. They knew they were unlikely to play much from May-August but some championship rounds might be fitted in over that time but perhaps not. They couldn’t go away, they couldn’t plan holidays but would just be training and playing meaningless games for the majority of the summer.

Cork hurler Niall O’Leary spoke to the Irish Examiner’s Maurice Brosnan this week about how positive the split season has been for him and for his clubmates.

“I think it is absolutely excellent. Absolutely brilliant. Talking to lads in the club at home, they love it as well. It gives great organisation and planning for club players especially. They can plan their holidays, different things like that. Even as inter-county players I think it’s a great way of running the system as well.”

However this week GAA President Jarlath Burns said All-Ireland finals may move to August in 2027 and the reintroduction of replays for provincial finals is possible too.

I hope the club players aren’t sacrificed for this and this is done in a balanced manner. I think they are far more important that fans who want to see a longer inter-county season!