Celebrating all GAA clubs on Patrick’s Day

With a bit of luck and good sense, the St Patrick’s Day finals in Croke Park will soon be consigned to history. Starting next year, the GAA’s leadership wants to play the All-Ireland club finals on the second Sunday of December, writes Paddy Heaney.

It’s a good idea. The motives underpinning the change are entirely noble – and county boards need to support it. Croke Park, however, doesn’t want to create the impression that they are railroading this change through Central Council.

Perhaps conscious of the criticism over the executive decision-making that surrounded the deal with Sky Sports, the management committee is exercising extreme caution. County boards with concerns about the proposal have been asked to submit a written document to Croke Park.