FORMER DONEGAL STAR Rory Kavanagh chewed the fat with Pat Spillane on RTÉ’s Allianz League Sunday show, as the pair digested the key decisions from the GAA’s Annual Congress.
Former Donegal All-Ireland winner Rory Kavanagh accused the GAA of “pulling the wool over people’s eyes” after the ‘super 8′ format was voted in, while Spillane was critical of the Gaelic Players Association for not voicing their opposition sooner.
By the time the GPA revealed that 70 per cent of their members were against the ‘super 8′ proposal, the vast majority of counties had already been mandated to vote in a particular way at Congress.
And Spillane said: “The GPA were very vocal but when did the GPA come out and issue their findings? The week of Congress.
“They knew this was in the pipeline for months upon months – they should have been out.”
Spillane also referenced the Club Players Association’s failure to gain speaking time at Congress.
“As regards the CPA, you can understand the frustrations of club players but if you want to sort out the issue with club players, let’s tackle the elephant in the room – county managers and boards out of control, who can dictate when championships can and can’t be played, and who’s available to play and train.”
Kavanagh reflected: “They (GPA) were very, very vocal (in) coming out against this proposal.
“I think their main gripe is they weren’t listened to. The GPA canvassed their members and the CPA wanted to speak at Congress – that was denied.
“This is pulling the wool over people’s eyes to an extent. The main issue is that players want to see a complete restructuring of the championship. The Ulster championship could be played in 5-6 weeks.”
But Spillane added that he’s in favour of the ‘super 8′ format, which will see a round-robin series of matches introduced at the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final stage, for three years, from 2018.
“As a GAA person, I welcome it. More high-profile games during the summer, more money that can be generated, that can be channeled down to games promotion and development in the lower counties, the replays done away with, good, county players will have a month less of county action.
“Have the qualifiers done a job? Over the 15 years of the qualifiers, 23 counties have appeared in the quarter-final stages.
As a rural person, and thinking about rural needs, a Dublin coming to Killarney, a Dublin going to Castlebar, a Kerry going to Salthill, it would be brilliant for the profile of the GAA and for the economy of the region.”
Kavanagh argued that it’s now difficult to envisage a repeat of Tipperary’s 2016 heroics, when the Premier County progressed through the qualifiers to contest an All-Ireland semi-final.
“Look at Tipp’s success last year – are you going to see surprises like that when they play three games at the quarter-final stage? I don’t think so.”
Spillane, commenting on how the ‘super 8′ system would have worked with the 2016 quarter-finalists, countered: “Donegal coming to Killarney, Mayo to Salthill, Tyrone to Clare, Kerry heading to Castlebar, that’s brilliant.
“The biggest issue that has to be addressed is the gap between the top and the weak.
I welcome this, it will increase the profile, more high-profile games, (but) I think we need to go further and have a B competition that goes side by side with that. The winners of the B can get into a quarter-final…unless the weaker teams get more meaningful matches, the gap is going to keep widening.”
Congress also voted through a proposal to bring the All-Ireland final dates back to August – and Spillane labelled this move “ridiculous and stupid.”
He added: “We’re taking our main product – inter-county football – out of the shop window for five months, which gives a clear run to the other rival sporting organisations, rugby and soccer.
At the moment, rugby is pretty much all year round. It’s sexy, it’s in, it’s hot, it’s what youngsters want to play.
“It’s drawing huge crowds. What drives the sport is top teams, top players, youngsters want to emulate them as role models. We’re cutting off our nose to spite our face.”
Spillane also signalled the potential “death knell” for small rural clubs, after motion 45, which would have allowed 17-year-olds to play in adult club competitions, was rejected.
It’s the death knell for small, rural clubs struggling to field 15 players at adult level.
“Clubs are not going to be able to field senior teams around the country in rural, peripheral regions because of this decision.”
What are your thoughts on the main issues arising from the GAA’s Annual Congress? Leave your feedback in the comments section below…
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