Hands off Munster final says Tipp chief

HANDS off the Munster final! This was the clear message delivered by Tipperary chairman John Costigan to the GAA leadership yesterday in terms of any future re-structuring of the All-Ireland hurling championship.

Addressing delegates at the annual convention in Thurles, he said that the provincial final stood out as “a GAA occasion apart” which had stood the test of time and hopefully would continue to “adorn” the GAA calendar.

While welcoming the change in the senior football championship which will free up one “extra” Sunday for clubs, he stressed that the hurling championship should not be radically altered.

“Congress next year will discuss the modus operandi for the championship which will come into effect in 2008 and while I agree with the proposed abolition of the meaningless round -robin series, I want to emphatically state that Tipperary says NO to any system that will diminish in any way the status of the Munster final,” he said.

He had a message too for the provincial officers in relation to the development of Semple Stadium, which has been designated as the second venue in the country after Croke Park.

“I think that when complete — with the wherewithal to generate revenue income of more than a quarter of a million more than any other stadium in the province when full — the Munster Council should bite the bullet and name Semple Stadium as the venue for all Munster hurling finals going forward,” he added.

Reminding delegates that one of his stated priorities on being elected chairman last year was the enhancement of the under-age scene, he expressed delight at the number of past players who came on board for coaching “and inspirational” purposes. With a firm commitment to the development squad philosophy, he expressed confidence that the concept could be fine -tuned.

“If the development squad concept is properly adhered to and if club and colleges games are properly monitored, then the days of the minor trials will be consigned to history and for my part the sooner the better.”

Reporting on a club visitation programme over the past six weeks, Mr Costigan said that they all had a responsibility to ensure that clubs responded to modern challenges.

“There is no place in the GAA for clubs without focus, organisation, facilities and a plan of action for its young and adult members to enable them to maximise their potential and enjoy themselves in the preparation and playing of our games.

“For a club to be effective within a community it must be active, energetic, modern in thinking and approach, and inclusive. The club for the future must have a place within it for all members of the family, male and female, to play its proper roll within a parish,” he said.

Highlighting a shortage of referees as a cause of concern, he warned clubs that the championships may have to be curtailed in the near future if there isn’t an improvement in the situation.

He paid a glowing tribute to the late John Moloney, who earned a reputation over a long period as one of the most accomplished referees in the history of the GAA.

Saying that while he felt “ill equipped” to speak of his contribution to the GAA in general, he believed he could ‘stand beside any of the great legends’ produced by the county.

Outgoing senior football manager Seamus McCarthy was lauded for his major contribution. The chairman recalled that after taking over at a difficult time, he had led the team to victory in the Tommy Murphy Cup final in Croke Park last year. “Seamus has had his fingerprints on every successful occasion in Tipp football going back to the Munster minor championship victory in Killarney in 1984,” he added.