Delaney slams set-up

THE GAA is “flogging” its young players to an inordinate degree, both in the amount of games they are expected to play and the training regimes they are subjected do, Leinster Council secretary, Michael Delaney believes.

Mr Delaney will tell the weekend convention that the situation surrounding injuries to players has changed “utterly” in terms of their seriousness and complexity.

In the past, players suffered pulled muscles, bad knees and various types of cuts and bruises, while the really serious cases were those with broken limbs. In general, the time lost was minimal.

Nowadays, with media previews often dominated by updates on litanies of injuries, the most frequent is “the dreaded cruciate ligament,” he points out.

“It is more than coincidental that this particular injury is most prevalent in young players around the late teens/early 20s age bracket.’’

Mr Delaney reasons that top players at this level are probably playing inter-county senior, under-21 and third level competitions - and some play both hurling and football in these grades.

“This means that, at times of the year, they may be expected to play two or three games a week.

“On top of that, they are probably expected to train with each team also.’’

Against the background of “unseemly squabbling” between county team managements and their counterparts in third level colleges, along with the public wrangling regarding dual players, he says that it’s time for someone to stand up and be counted.

The bottom line is that players must be protected, even if at times they may not approve.

The situation needs urgent examination, he stresses, bearing in mind that team managers tend not to concede by releasing or “going easy” on players.

Also, he said, experience shows county committees are reluctant to interfere in team management.

“Consequently, I feel the solution lies in the hands of the fixtures makers - both those who devise competitions and those who decide on timing.

“Hard decisions must be made about matters such as: (a) Should we allow under-21 inter-county and third level competitions overlap? (b) Is there any need at all for under-21 inter-county competitions? (c) Should under-21 at county level be an adult grade of its own? (d) Should we juggle inter-county fixtures to facilitate dual players? (e) Should there be a definite closed period (games and training) from inter-county activity? (f) Should there be a greater involvement of our medical committee and sports scientists in the preparation of match programmes or training schedules?

Commenting that his motivation for raising the issue is to initiate a positive dialogue, the Leinster Secretary repeats his concern that players are suffering at the hands of administrators and yet nobody has shouted stop, at least not loudly enough to be listened to in the corridors of power.

“Please, let somebody address the issue before the next batch of players is put on the sidelines with long-term injuries.’’

Pointing out that some “well-intentioned” proposals in relation to the provincial senior hurling championship made in last year’s report elicited a hostile response, Mr Delaney notes that he did not receive a single positive alternative proposal.

“As years go by it becomes more and more difficult to put a positive spin on a review of the championship,’’ he adds.

“This, I suppose, is understandable when you talk about a competition which involves four different grades of participation.

“Firstly, you have the Westmeath/ Kildare/Carlow/Meath/Wicklow section, then Laois and Dublin have another plateau, above that is the ledge with Wexford and Offaly while seated high up on the precipice is Kilkenny.

“It hardly makes sense to have all these in the same mix, but such is the way of democracy!’’

As “a success-starved” Laois man, he is as joyous about the county’s long-awaited win in the senior football championship under the inspired management of Mick O’Dwyer as he was that day in July when he helped Ian Fitzgerald lift the trophy.

“There is no money - neither that of a Russian oil tycoon or an Irish racing magnate could have bought the emotions evoked when (chairman) Nickey Brennan called on Liam O’Neill and myself to present the trophy,’’ he comments.

The Council’s income for the year totalled €6,104,372, producing a surplus of €1.34m.

Gate receipts showed an increase of €778,233 - with the Kilkenny/Wexford senior hurling final yielding €794,656, compared to €1,074,495 for the Laois/Kildare football decider.

*Corresponding returns in Munster were €902,687 for the Cork/Waterford hurling final in Thurles. The Munster football final between Kerry and Limerick in Killarney yielded €588,776.