Ulster official urges AFL links rethink

ULSTER Secretary Danny Murphy believes that the GAA should carry out an immediate review of their link with the Australian Football League following the violence in the second test game in Melbourne last month.

And, he is convinced that they should abandon the junior tours, on the basis that they assist AFL clubs in "talent-scouting" their best young players.

The membership needs to be satisfied that continuing the International Rules Series at senior level was good for the Association as well as for its international dimension, he said yesterday.

He said the recent series had demonstrated all the things they had attempted to eliminate from the competition. And, he feels that the inducement to players to join AFL teams was another matter "of serious concern."

"I honestly believe that we should immediately dispense with playing the Under-17 internationals," Mr Murphy stated.

"The fact of the matter is that there is too much talent-spotting going in within our organisation in regard to players playing in the AFL. I'm not saying it wouldn't be the case if the junior tours were ended. What I am saying is that by us playing matches with them at this level, we are actually giving them an opportunity to talent-scout our organisation.

"I don't think we should assist them.

"I think this year's series has been a very major setback to the 'internationalised' approach of the GAA. I'm starting to wonder if, as Mickey Harte says, the time has arrived for the GAA to be 'internationalising' itself."

Mr Murphy said the sight of joint Australian captain Chris Johnson being presented with the Cormac McAnallen trophy after he had attacked three Irish players in a single incident only added insult to injury.

"As somebody who had the privilege of knowing Cormac, I think it was a gross insult to the memory of the man that Johnson got the cup with a grin on his face.

"The whole thing needs a review and I think now is as good a time as any. First, we should cut the ties at under-age level."

Meanwhile, Mr Murphy said that the Ulster Council won't consider playing next year's provincial football final in Croke Park until such time as they assessed the progress of teams in the championship.

But, the game will be played the week before the Leinster final when Croke Park would be available.

The policy has been to fix their final on the same day as the Leinster final only on years when the provinces would be paired in the All-Ireland semi-final stage, he explained.

"There's no decision whatsoever as to whether the final will be played in Croke Park or not," he added.