GAA’s best tactic: put the club before county

RECENT happenings in the GAA prompt this question: has the inter-county system outlived its time? For about 20 years after its foundation, the club competition was the main showpiece of the association.

The inter-county system was introduced around the beginning of the last century, and became hugely successful. However, in recent times an elitist group, the GPA, appears to want to bring in professionalism through the backdoor.

If the GAA was to go down that road, it would be a disaster as the association would be driven by jealousy and greed.

In recent decades we have seen the glamour which clubs like Baltinglass of Wicklow, Eire Óg of Carlow, O’Donovan Rossa of Cork and Ballinderry of Derry have brought to the game.

If the club championship was played in summer and autumn as the premier competition, it would arouse enormous interest. It would also give clubs from so-called weaker countries the chance to shine on the national stage.

Michael O’Connor,

Kilvoultra,

Clondrohid,

Macroom,

Co Cork.