Call for minor changes to ease exam pressure

Brendan O’Brien

In his programme notes for Sunday's senior All-Ireland football semi-final between Kerry and Cork, the GAA president suggested that no training sessions or games be held in May or June in the run-up to exams.

Instead he would envisage the championships commencing in July with the All-Ireland finals acting as curtain-raisers for their senior counterparts in September, as is currently the case.

"Basically, minors are under too much pressure between Leaving Cert and multiple eligibility (for teams). It's worth thinking about, but if we are serious about 'the club' and 'the school' then something must give."

The Uachtarán's idea has been well received by Laois minor manager Andy Shortall, who was principal of St Fergal's School, Rathdowney, for 12 years.

The former Tipperary senior manager has seen the pressure on youngsters from both sides of the fence and he feels that Kelly's views should be given serious consideration.

"With players who are really serious about their football, it has to affect their schoolwork, there's no doubt about it. Unless a fella is extremely disciplined about it and some of them are their grades do tend to suffer. It would be a positive if this was to happen."

Kelly has also called into question the recent changes to the minor championship structures which give the four beaten provincial finalists a second chance in the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

"What's the logic? What's the point?" said Kelly. That stance is likely to ruffle more than a few feathers as, for the first time this year, all four runners-up advanced to the All-Ireland semi-final at the expense of the champions.

With Laois coming a cropper against beaten Munster finalists Kerry in the last eight, it's hardly surprising to hear that Shortall is an advocate of Kelly on this point as well. However, his reasoning is far from partisan.

"I would be in total agreement with that and that's not just because of what happened us this year," he laughed.

"We only have one stage where beaten teams can come back into the championship. That's not exactly fair on other teams. It doesn't make sense as far as I am concerned. You either let every team have a second chance or none at all. It's either a straight knock-out or it's not. These lads are at an age where they are getting plenty of football anyway so giving them extra matches shouldn't be an issue."