National Forum

GPA Propose Shorter Intercounty Season

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Replying To KillingFields:  "So why not propose something to do that as your proposal will just see the players continuing to play for all teams and not get any time off to recoup and recover"
I mean that's up to them.

How many players would play Club provincial competitions, college and intercounty each year.

I've said it before that not everyone can be catered for.

My proposal sorts out really the 2 main competition areas.

Club championships for most are the bread and butter of the game. The inter county season is hugely important for the season as a whole.

It alleviates the inter county v colleges clash and the college v club championships clash.

Majority of the association has very much an October end to their season.

Club activity is going to be light/secondary competitions until mid July.

Intercounty season is going to be intense but with a much improved training to games ratio.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 3111 - 28/08/2020 10:44:50    2289465

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The stadium in Cork cost near the price of an Mayo style stadium in eack counry . Maybe the money should have being spent on 32 indoors venues . From a Mayo perspective only , could club group games be played indoors in February , March and April , with quater finals onwards , outside from May to early June . The rest of the year mid June to the end of September is free for inter county and club league hurling/football . October to January is free for colleges and club championship . Would this system work in Mayo , ignore the other 31 counties for now !

jfk21 (Dublin) - Posts: 51 - 28/08/2020 12:51:42    2289493

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Replying To jfk21:  "The stadium in Cork cost near the price of an Mayo style stadium in eack counry . Maybe the money should have being spent on 32 indoors venues . From a Mayo perspective only , could club group games be played indoors in February , March and April , with quater finals onwards , outside from May to early June . The rest of the year mid June to the end of September is free for inter county and club league hurling/football . October to January is free for colleges and club championship . Would this system work in Mayo , ignore the other 31 counties for now !"
If your referring to the dome at the Connacht center of excellence then you need to know it does not belong to Mayo GAA. Mayo clubs would have no more access rights to that center over a club in Roscommon, Galway, sligo or Leitrim.

Also do you realise clubs have to pay to use those facilities, be it training or play a game there. My club has never played a de joe game there although u21 games have been played there on a very few occasions last one occurred last November.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 10339 - 28/08/2020 14:23:33    2289505

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Replying To ArmaghCat:  "So no GPA members play for their clubs....never read so much bitter rubbish....GPA on record that they are after sustainable amateurism but don't let that get in the way of your rant

Some of the anti inter county stuff is laughable led by O Rourke and Flynn both who did very well out of their own inter county careers and who both make a good living writing about the same game and players they constantly slate

GPA proposal is genuine and most importantly provides space for both games (club and county) to co exist as well as providing space for the squeezed inter varsity"
My post certainly wasn't bitter or anti inter county! I love the inter county game, and would be disappointed to see it end so early in the year if July is the cut off point.

GPA members are club players as well true but club only players are not members of the GPA. Somewhere in the middle of that is where their priority is; look at the creation of the GPA, people involved in high positions over the years and people who are attached to the GPA's comments in random interviews.

They've pushed the GAA a long way and I'm happy players are better looked after in 2020 in terms of expenses, medical insurance, scholarships etc. Many would agree or disagree with semi professionalism, personally whilst I enjoy the inter county game and would like to see an improved structure semi professionalism would be a step too far and bring us close to the plight of our rugby clubs.

Of course you can't come out and say "our aim is semi professionalism". You need to be politically correct and have a long term plan to plant the seeds before even commencing the conversation. There is no evidence that's the ultimate goal but soundings certainly make it seem possible.

I'm convinced there is another motive to having a protected 6-7 month inter county only season and it isn't purely to help the club/fixture problem. Get the foundations down and then move onto competition reform and so on.

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 707 - 28/08/2020 16:06:10    2289517

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Replying To sam1884:  "My post certainly wasn't bitter or anti inter county! I love the inter county game, and would be disappointed to see it end so early in the year if July is the cut off point.

GPA members are club players as well true but club only players are not members of the GPA. Somewhere in the middle of that is where their priority is; look at the creation of the GPA, people involved in high positions over the years and people who are attached to the GPA's comments in random interviews.

They've pushed the GAA a long way and I'm happy players are better looked after in 2020 in terms of expenses, medical insurance, scholarships etc. Many would agree or disagree with semi professionalism, personally whilst I enjoy the inter county game and would like to see an improved structure semi professionalism would be a step too far and bring us close to the plight of our rugby clubs.

Of course you can't come out and say "our aim is semi professionalism". You need to be politically correct and have a long term plan to plant the seeds before even commencing the conversation. There is no evidence that's the ultimate goal but soundings certainly make it seem possible.

I'm convinced there is another motive to having a protected 6-7 month inter county only season and it isn't purely to help the club/fixture problem. Get the foundations down and then move onto competition reform and so on."
I think there will be competition reform but I don't think there's any evidence to suggest it'll look like a 6-7 month season.

If anything they are going in the opposite direction if that we're their goal.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 3111 - 28/08/2020 16:39:26    2289527

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Replying To Whammo86:  "I think there will be competition reform but I don't think there's any evidence to suggest it'll look like a 6-7 month season.

If anything they are going in the opposite direction if that we're their goal."
Well if the dates proposed are accepted the inter county only season will run from Jan to July; that is a 6 to 7 month protected window with no club action involving inter county players to start until July. I don't envisage the GAA will just continue with the same pre season, national league, championship within that timeframe. My point is significant competition reform would take place possibly on a tiered system. It's then we'll see the real motivation of this split season proposal especially as these dates/competition will be consistent year on year with no distractions for inter county competitions.

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 707 - 29/08/2020 11:55:03    2289635

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Replying To jfk21:  "The stadium in Cork cost near the price of an Mayo style stadium in eack counry . Maybe the money should have being spent on 32 indoors venues . From a Mayo perspective only , could club group games be played indoors in February , March and April , with quater finals onwards , outside from May to early June . The rest of the year mid June to the end of September is free for inter county and club league hurling/football . October to January is free for colleges and club championship . Would this system work in Mayo , ignore the other 31 counties for now !"
Some indoor/outdoor stadiums would be a major attraction and enhance the sport. Some refurbishing stadium plans now should stop and think outside the box. Like Walsh Park where there never will be a requirement for more than 16,000 capacity. Not alone could a split season be achieved but also a spit season for inter county football and hurling.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 979 - 29/08/2020 18:08:43    2289687

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Replying To jfk21:  "The stadium in Cork cost near the price of an Mayo style stadium in eack counry . Maybe the money should have being spent on 32 indoors venues . From a Mayo perspective only , could club group games be played indoors in February , March and April , with quater finals onwards , outside from May to early June . The rest of the year mid June to the end of September is free for inter county and club league hurling/football . October to January is free for colleges and club championship . Would this system work in Mayo , ignore the other 31 counties for now !"
Some indoor/outdoor stadiums would be a major attraction and enhance the sport. Some refurbishing stadium plans now should stop and think outside the box. Like Walsh Park where there never will be a requirement for more than 16,000 capacity. Not alone could a split season be achieved but also a spit season for inter county football and hurling.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 979 - 29/08/2020 18:22:21    2289689

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Some indoor/outdoor stadiums would be a major attraction and enhance the sport. Some refurbishing stadium plans now should stop and think outside the box. Like Walsh Park where there never will be a requirement for more than 16,000 capacity. Not alone could a split season be achieved but also a spit season for inter county football and hurling.
Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 822 - 29/08/2020 18:22:21 Is there really a need for a split season for inter county hurling and football as well as split for clubs?

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 1636 - 29/08/2020 18:41:53    2289691

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My post certainly wasn't bitter or anti inter county! I love the inter county game, and would be disappointed to see it end so early in the year if July is the cut off point.
GPA members are club players as well true but club only players are not members of the GPA. Somewhere in the middle of that is where their priority is; look at the creation of the GPA, people involved in high positions over the years and people who are attached to the GPA's comments in random interviews.
They've pushed the GAA a long way and I'm happy players are better looked after in 2020 in terms of expenses, medical insurance, scholarships etc. Many would agree or disagree with semi professionalism, personally whilst I enjoy the inter county game and would like to see an improved structure semi professionalism would be a step too far and bring us close to the plight of our rugby clubs.
Of course you can't come out and say "our aim is semi professionalism". You need to be politically correct and have a long term plan to plant the seeds before even commencing the conversation. There is no evidence that's the ultimate goal but soundings certainly make it seem possible.
I'm convinced there is another motive to having a protected 6-7 month inter county only season and it isn't purely to help the club/fixture problem. Get the foundations down and then move onto competition reform and so on.
sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 591 - 28/08/2020 16:06:10 What plight of our rugby clubs?

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 1636 - 29/08/2020 18:43:02    2289692

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Replying To KillingFields:  "Some indoor/outdoor stadiums would be a major attraction and enhance the sport. Some refurbishing stadium plans now should stop and think outside the box. Like Walsh Park where there never will be a requirement for more than 16,000 capacity. Not alone could a split season be achieved but also a spit season for inter county football and hurling.
Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 822 - 29/08/2020 18:22:21 Is there really a need for a split season for inter county hurling and football as well as split for clubs?"
Maybe not but you could have the so called second tier counties playing a competition in winter with ideal conditions.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 979 - 29/08/2020 22:08:38    2289721

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Replying To yew_tree:  "If your referring to the dome at the Connacht center of excellence then you need to know it does not belong to Mayo GAA. Mayo clubs would have no more access rights to that center over a club in Roscommon, Galway, sligo or Leitrim.

Also do you realise clubs have to pay to use those facilities, be it training or play a game there. My club has never played a de joe game there although u21 games have been played there on a very few occasions last one occurred last November."
My post lacked clarity , when saying ignore the other 31 counties , I meant hypothetical could the Mayo county championship group games be played at this venue if access was available ? Lets say play the group matches from Febuary to April and from the quarter final onwards ouside , finishing June 14th . Would this idea work ? The Belfast Stadium if ever built ! Croke park and Cork have cost around 500million . Could the next 100million be spent on these domes ? This would maybe allow a longer season . Its a pity that a dome cant be attached to the croke park roof for winter !

jfk21 (Dublin) - Posts: 51 - 30/08/2020 13:05:33    2289757

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Replying To jfk21:  "My post lacked clarity , when saying ignore the other 31 counties , I meant hypothetical could the Mayo county championship group games be played at this venue if access was available ? Lets say play the group matches from Febuary to April and from the quarter final onwards ouside , finishing June 14th . Would this idea work ? The Belfast Stadium if ever built ! Croke park and Cork have cost around 500million . Could the next 100million be spent on these domes ? This would maybe allow a longer season . Its a pity that a dome cant be attached to the croke park roof for winter !"
Why are you dragging out the Mayo championship from February to June. It only takes 6 weekends to complete. It can be run off in 2 months with break weekends in there. I don't understand the need to use the dome. Why do you want club football to be finished for some that early in the year?

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 3111 - 30/08/2020 15:22:56    2289772

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I love this proposal and I really hope that it is adopted. I've always thought that separate seasons for club and inter-county is the only way to go.

Gaillimh_Abu (Galway) - Posts: 841 - 30/08/2020 17:49:19    2289787

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Replying To Gaillimh_Abu:  "I love this proposal and I really hope that it is adopted. I've always thought that separate seasons for club and inter-county is the only way to go."
Agree, makes sense, players can plan better with this proposal.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4434 - 30/08/2020 18:08:34    2289790

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Replying To Whammo86:  "Why are you dragging out the Mayo championship from February to June. It only takes 6 weekends to complete. It can be run off in 2 months with break weekends in there. I don't understand the need to use the dome. Why do you want club football to be finished for some that early in the year?"
My posts are not very articulate and are a bit all over the place ! I was using Mayo as and example but I was allowing for dual counties if these domes were usable . Could these domes be used use longterm ( 4 year plan ) to help split and extend the club and county season more nationwide ? With clubs , counties , colleges , club all irelands , all competing for calender slots next year , indoor venues could maybe extend the season and solve a lot of problems . Everybody wants summer conditions for games and its a very short time frame for everything to fit in ? I dont see the Gaa wanting to shorten the Championship 2021 season to be honest and club player will want their new set up ! .Fitting everything in Club football , club hurling, county football and county hurling with defined club season ls impossible it would take 7 months . I just see an unfixable problem next year ! The three options for club players are , , play club without county players , play outside summer time in muck championship or revert to last year system Next year look a nightmare to me fixtures wise . I

jfk21 (Dublin) - Posts: 51 - 30/08/2020 18:28:06    2289792

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Replying To Gaillimh_Abu:  "I love this proposal and I really hope that it is adopted. I've always thought that separate seasons for club and inter-county is the only way to go."
Do you full off season in place then? And is completely segregated seasons really needed when inter county only involves a tiny percentage of players overall

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 1636 - 30/08/2020 19:19:38    2289799

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Replying To jfk21:  "My post lacked clarity , when saying ignore the other 31 counties , I meant hypothetical could the Mayo county championship group games be played at this venue if access was available ? Lets say play the group matches from Febuary to April and from the quarter final onwards ouside , finishing June 14th . Would this idea work ? The Belfast Stadium if ever built ! Croke park and Cork have cost around 500million . Could the next 100million be spent on these domes ? This would maybe allow a longer season . Its a pity that a dome cant be attached to the croke park roof for winter !"
It will actually be interesting to see what is done when the next Croke Park rebuild is needed....probably 15-20 years now

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 10339 - 30/08/2020 20:12:25    2289814

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Replying To jfk21:  "My posts are not very articulate and are a bit all over the place ! I was using Mayo as and example but I was allowing for dual counties if these domes were usable . Could these domes be used use longterm ( 4 year plan ) to help split and extend the club and county season more nationwide ? With clubs , counties , colleges , club all irelands , all competing for calender slots next year , indoor venues could maybe extend the season and solve a lot of problems . Everybody wants summer conditions for games and its a very short time frame for everything to fit in ? I dont see the Gaa wanting to shorten the Championship 2021 season to be honest and club player will want their new set up ! .Fitting everything in Club football , club hurling, county football and county hurling with defined club season ls impossible it would take 7 months . I just see an unfixable problem next year ! The three options for club players are , , play club without county players , play outside summer time in muck championship or revert to last year system Next year look a nightmare to me fixtures wise . I"
Could you not put spaces before full stops etc and use paragraphs. Would be easier to read then..
These domes arent feasible or necessary everywhere.
You dont need to split the club and inter county season if there is proper sanctions for those who break whatever regulations/rules you have in place for competitions.
Put in place a proper calendar for clubs at start of year that must be stuck to.
Somewhere you have to look and say some players shouldnt/cant play for everyone.

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 1636 - 30/08/2020 20:48:17    2289827

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Replying To KillingFields:  "Do you full off season in place then? And is completely segregated seasons really needed when inter county only involves a tiny percentage of players overall"
Well the GAA and a tiny portion of it, seem only interested in the Inter-county game, simply because there is money in it, no other reason at all. So we either curtail the Inter-county season or divide the year up. IMO the leagues should be scrapped and that one free up a good proportion of the year schedules. It would also make the Inter-county season far more interesting with probably a bigger following. But as I say the GAA and its minority supporters want the money at the expense of everything.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4434 - 30/08/2020 20:51:00    2289828

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