Tail cannot be allowed to keep wagging dog
The inter-county training moratorium and the no payments to managers agreement are two deals that anecdotal evidence points to being contravened.
At central level, things also have a way of coming undone. Whatever is decided at Central Council on Saturday week will be better than the National Hurling League proposal that had been backed last December. Still, why the change of heart when it was voted in by a majority of delegates?
That’s nothing new, though. What about that successful motion to alter cups at Congress two years back to prevent them being filled with alcohol? How’s that one getting along again?
In an organisation as complex as the GAA, there has to be some leeway for conflicts and ambiguities. Indeed, when we read over the weekend about Martin O’Neill once describing himself as being “full of anomalies, ironies, paradoxes — downright contradiction to be perfectly honest”, we instantly thought of the association.
But there is a limit to the exceptions. As county boards find themselves in a by now annual fixtures pickle, we can only imagine how officials in Croke Park despair at their lack of leadership.
Managers hold all the aces because they are the hands boards have dealt them. To persuade Jim McGuinness to stay on another year, Donegal danced to his tune and next year they have put themselves in the ridiculous situation of postponing their senior championship until after the county exit the All-Ireland SFC.
How the hell is that promoting Gaelic games?
Earlier this year, Jim Gavin successfully requested a round of championship fixtures be postponed as it clashed with Dublin’s Division 1 semi-final.
The managers’ charter came about to bring a balance between club and county interests. Now it’s about keeping managers in check. But how can the GAA do that when several county boards have little or no intention of making managers aware of their collective responsibilities?
Last week, GAA president Liam O’Neill spoke of his player welfare concerns in the face of the demands being placed on them by inter-county managers.
“It’s not so much the games people are playing, it’s the training regimes of different managements,” he told Newstalk. “Counties are going to have to take that into consideration and speak to the managements and say ‘co-operate here, put the player first other than your own ego or the county’.
“If we care about players we have to show it. We have to talk to their managements and get them on side.”
Last February, the growing cult of the inter-county manager prompted O’Neill to slam them and the manner in which they divorced themselves from the county and the GAA.
He couldn’t be more right, but just how much sway does Croke Park have over men who are only in it for the short term and, quite often, for themselves?
Director general Páraic Duffy is widely described as the most powerful administrator in Irish sport. That is a gross misconception. If it weren’t, why else would he admit in a 2009 group newspaper interview with Philip Browne and John Delaney his wish to have the executive power of either of the IRFU and FAI chiefs?
“Sometimes I envy the two lads here over the control they appear to have of their organisations. We are very democratic in the GAA.”
Perhaps too much, you might say.
All Croke Park can really do is make it as easy for counties to facilitate their units. Next year’s rescheduling of the All-Ireland championships will assist in staging club games. By organising a more predictable championship calendar, boards can plan ahead.
But when the likes of Donegal allow the tail to wag the dog just how successful will it be? It’s a concern GAA director of player welfare and games administration Feargal McGill acknowledges. “As long as counties use the time it creates to play extra club games. If they don’t use that time then it’s a waste of time. Counties really have to ask themselves if they are going to do that.”
The risk, if they don’t take the opportunity, is the further disenfranchising of the club player. Alas, too many county boards are weak and sycophantic to their managers that it’s one that will be realised.
Email: john.fogarty@examiner.ie
And just like that they were gone. Seventeen days, to be precise. The 2010 All-Ireland winning Cork half-back line. Out to pasture.
That only Graham Canty was starting regularly this year means it’s not an entirely seismic loss to new manager Brian Cuthbert but their collective experience will be badly missed.
True to his nature, Canty’s retirement was delivered with the minimum of fuss. Here was a player who but for injuries could have achieved more but he was not looking for sympathy.
The glory of 2010 and the respect he garnered over the years more than compensated. When International Rules really mattered, it was Canty who drew the greatest plaudits.
But it was probably in Kerry where he was most admired for his leadership qualities.
Not that they would readily admit it but they always viewed Cork as a fiercer animal with him involved.
As Sixmilebridge or Newmarket-on-Fergus face the prospect of six games in as many weeks, Galway champions Portumna have their feet up waiting for an All-Ireland semi-final against the Munster champions, three months away.
That’s no fault of their own, of course, but it’s about time either the Leinster Council or Croke Park themselves put it to Galway that they can’t pick and choose which competitions they enter.
As fully-fledged members of the Leinster SHC, Galway also deserve a home game. But with no provincial championships for their minor and U21 teams as well as their senior champions, they have a distinct advantage over teams from other provinces.
