Murphy critical of GAA Task Force report

IN his report to Sunday’s county convention, Cork secretary Frank Murphy is critical of a number of aspects of the recently published Competition Review Task Force report.

The report recommends the ending of the intermediate hurling and junior championships, essentially confining counties to just one adult grade (outside U21).

"Are our inter-county competitions to become so elitist that we cater only for the top players and deprive the average player of wearing his county jersey?" asks Mr Murphy.

It is also proposed to axe the All-Ireland quarter-finals in minor football to ease fixture congestion and make greater provision for club games.

Mr Murphy however argues that because the four quarter-finals were played on the one day in 2003 they did not have a serious impact on club competitions.

"If the experimental quarter-finals had not existed in 2003, the All-Ireland championship would have been deprived of a Laois minor team that proved one of the most exceptional teams to win the title in recent years."

The Cork secretary is also concerned at the impact the new hurling proposals will have on the local championship scene.

Under new proposals the provincial winners would have to play an All-Ireland quarter-final. It is also proposed the four qualifier teams that do not make the All-Ireland quarter-finals would play off in a relegation round robin with one being demoted from the senior championship.

"Whereas it is proposed to eliminate intermediate, junior and minor competition/games which had little impact on club championships there is a substantial increase in the proposed All-Ireland SHC schedule which will place further restriction on club championship schedules.

"Where is a dual county, with its football team also competing at the top level, going to find space to play its county championships at a favourable time of the year," said Mr Murphy.

However a number of the proposals have found favour with the Cork secretary. Among them is one to reduce inter-county senior panels from 30 to 24 players, and no live TV coverage of games on Saturdays which commence after 3.30pm or replays that commence after 4pm on a Sunday.

The erection of floodlights at Pairc Uí Rinn earlier in the year helped to attract an attendance of 13,500 for the NFL clash with Kerry, and has been of huge benefit in the staging of county and divisional games.

"We hope to play all our home NFL games under lights in 2004 and to encourage some counties to play NHL games under lights also," he said.

Referring to the defeat of the county's senior hurlers by Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final, Mr Murphy said a number of missed scoring chances in the first half were astounding.

"The team rallied with great spirit in the second half but opportunities to seal victory were not availed of."

The defeat of the county's U21 footballers, who failed to get past the first round of the provincial championship for the second year in-a-row, worries him.

"We were well in control at half time against Waterford, but lost our way in the second half.

"The unavailability of two key players who were also on the county senior hurling team, was unsettling and certainly contributed to the defeat."