Brennan unsure of All-Ireland club change

GAA PRESIDENT Nickey Brennan remains to be convinced that it would be ‘practical’ to complete the AIB All-Ireland stages of the club championships before Christmas.

But he admitted yesterday the idea was being considered at committee level and that it had ‘some merit,’ particularly in relation to hurling.

Under the current arrangement, he feels that Antrim are placed at a serious disadvantage because their club champions invariably get to the All-Ireland semi-final. In real terms it denies the county management the services of these players for the early rounds of the League, a situation which will be more challenging next year when they compete in Division One.

Brennan was speaking at the formal launch of the 2008-09 competitions in AIB headquarters in Dublin yesterday, where it was confirmed that the bank is to extend its sponsorship to the junior and intermediate championships for the next two years.

This had been ‘the ambition’ of a lot of people associated with Gaelic games in the bank, said senior executive Billy Finn and they could now look forward to three ‘club days’ in Croke Park next year, on March 14, 15 and 17.

“Picking up the papers today you can see the effort that is going in every club in every parish in the country. They are all determined to get their day in Croke Park. I think it is a fantastic initiative on the part of the GAA and we are delighted to be part of it,’’ he said.

“We believe the club championships are vital to the GAA. The club is family, whether it is the Cannings with Portumna, the Larkins with ‘the Village’, the McConvilles with Crossmaglen and the McGraths with Mount Sion. These are all names and families that are strongly linked to their clubs.

“Yesterday in the Cork hurling final you had five Murphy brothers on the losing side and you had the sons of Tadhg Murphy, Bertie Óg Murphy and the great Teddy McCarthy on the winning side. The club is family and we believe in keeping that going.’’