Public stay away but players committed to Railway Cup

THE public continue to vote with their feet, indicating the continuing lack of interest in the interprovincial competitions, but the majority of players remain committed to their future.

And, while GAA President Sean Kelly shares the enthusiasm of sponsor Martin Donnelly, he says that it's time for the Association at large to take a more serious approach if the games are to have a future.

"We have given a commitment the hurling final was played in Rome last year and this year the football final was played in Paris.

"What I'm going to do now is bring in the provincial councils, they're really the people whose hands it is in. Hopefully, we can come up with a strategy over a number of years,'' Mr. Kelly stated. "There are lessons to be learned from what we have seen over the last year or two. Nobody can deny that the players really love this competition. It means an awful lot to the players and that's number one.

"The message has got through to all our officials that the players want the competitions to be retained. We have got to work hard at promoting them and see where we'll stage them, possibly in conjunction with the club championships or something of that nature.

"Quite obviously, there is a place for the competitions. We'll have to try and increase the profile for the sake of the players.''

Martin Donnelly, the former Clare football sponsor, wasn't too disappointed with an attendance of 500 in Pearse Stadium, making the point that the game was originally meant to be played five weeks earlier.

"We have learned a lot from this year. We know what we have to do and there has to be a bit of effort put into the promotion. You could see the intensity of the game, there is no way the players want to see the competition abandoned. They players will be the ones who will eventually keep it alive,'' he commented.

"We'll sit down in the New Year and see where we're taking it and see what we have to do to get the crowds back up.''

Ollie Canning, one of six players who were on the last winning Connacht team (also against Munster, in 1999), agrees that the involvement of Donnelly has boosted the image of the competitions.

"I was in Rome last year, when we lost to Leinster and it was brilliant. Players put in an awful effort and it's getting harder all the time. I have a lot of mileage up since I started hurling, the training is getting more intense. If players can get a trip away like that, they really appreciate it. You're training all year and it's very hard to plan even a simple thing like a weekend away. In fairness, Martin Donnelly came in and drove this on. The players really appreciate what he has done.''