Council issues NFL play-off placings ruling
The decision was taken in response to a proposal put by Longford at last night’s pre-Congress meeting of the Council that points difference would apply in such an eventuality.
It will be recalled that Longford were awarded both points following their drawn game with Offaly — after it was decided that Offaly included a player who was ineligible.
Meanwhile, the Council deferred a request from the Offaly Board that next year’s Division One grouping in the National Hurling League should comprise ten teams instead of nine.
Last night’s opening session of Congress was taken up with a briefing on the finances by new Financial Controller Tom Ryan and a short debate on the report of the Director-General.
While Mr Ryan informed delegates that the Association was in a ‘healthy situation’ overall, he painted a bleak picture about their liability insurance (employers and property) and the Players Injury Scheme.
He warned that the era of a Euro €1,000 premium per team ‘is not far away’ unless they improve the position.
Public liability claims increased from €1 million to €2.5m last year, causing their reserves to dwindle to a €1m.
A figure of €2m alone in cash was paid out to people who took claims against the Association.
On the Players Injury scheme front, they paid out a massive €9.5m in claims last year.
‘‘Unless we address this situation fairly quickly, we are on the verge of financial difficulty,’’ he commented.
GAA President Nickey Brennan sounded a warning about the use of their property by ‘outside’ people not properly insured. ‘‘It’s crazy some of the things that are going on,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s causing clubs a fortune. Nobody should be allowed to use your property unless they have taken out their own insurance under the Hirers’ scheme.’’
Cork delegate Bob Honohan raised the issue of discipline, saying their system was inherently unfair when different players received different suspensions for the same offence.
And, former Munster Chairman Noel Walsh argued that players who received cumulative yellow cards should be penalised.
He pointed that one prominent player last received 19 cards in the course of the season, but was ‘wise enough’ not to pick up two in any game!
Former President Dr Mick Loftus expressed reservations about the use of Croke Park for other sports, saying he was ‘amazed’ by the amount of alcohol advertising around the stadium after the rugby game against France.
While appreciating that the GAA had ‘rented’ the stadium, he felt they should ‘plead’ with the IRFU (describing them as a sport ‘steeped in alcohol’) to adopt a more moderate stance..
Before Congress got under way, the President conveyed the sympathy of the Association to former Wexford manager Liam Griffin, whose mother Jenny died on Friday night at the age of 94.
