The price of tinkering with a Munster final

Outgoing Munster Council chairman Jimmy O’Gorman predicts challenging times ahead for the GAA. Colm O’Connor reports.

THE unexpected cold snap in early January meant an unusual Sunday occurrence for Jimmy O’Gorman.

“With the snow and frost there were no games on anywhere,” he recounts. “My wife Anne remarked it was the first time in years that we sat down and enjoyed Sunday lunch together at home in Lismore. The GAA has been always been part of my life whether it was with club, divisional, county or at Munster Council level.”

The standout moments from three years as chairman of Munster GAA are imprinted on the memory. Like becoming the first Waterford native to hand over the Munster SHC trophy to a fellow county man.

“Presenting the cup to Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh was very, very special in 2007. I had been there for all the low points, the lean years when Waterford were hammered. But what Waterford have achieved in Munster in the last decade or so has been phenomenal and it was a privilege to be a part of it. That was amazing day apart for the result as we had the President and An Taoiseach there as guests of the Munster Council.”

Ah yes, the magic of Munster final Sunday with all its pomp, ceremony and history thrown into the blender for a few short hours. But with the back doors and qualifier routes of the All-Ireland series, many feel it is a devalued occasion, a tradition maintained for tradition sake?

“We could say that the GAA as an organisation is slow to change and that it is conservative. But the Munster championship has always been a big part of the hurling year. Imagine if you were to do away with the great days in the province. It would be a serious void that could not be replaced. People are talking about a Champions League-style competition in place of the provinces. Take, for example, Waterford going up to play Antrim or Carlow coming down to play Cork. It is no disrespect against those other counties but I couldn’t see the thousands you bring into Pairc Ui Chaoimh or Thurles on a given weekend for a clash of the traditional counties in Munster going to see those other teams.

“I want to be clear, it is not about money but there are huge financial issues there for all the provincial councils which are dependent on these competitions. The commitment of Munster Council now is staggering. We are paying a portion of wages to 40 people every year. We pay out €50,000 in bursaries (with Croke Park adding €20,000) at third level.

“We pay out in excess of €2m in development grants every year, we have four full time people in our offices and we are out there the whole time promoting our games. The only way we can honour those commitments is by retaining the championships at provincial level.”

Of more immediate concern for O’Gorman is the economic downturn which is strangling the country. He feels that the GAA can be the forefront of the fight for recovery.

“This is a serious time for the Association. We have survived war, famine and strikes and it is as strong now as it ever was and we have done that because of the commitment of volunteers to their parish, their youth and their communities. The biggest challenge is to keep our young people content and properly focussed. It is pointless getting bogged down in the negative. What will that achieve? We must try and be positive. For young people it was never more important to play or get involved in sport. Sport is of vital importance – it is a release valve.

“Trying to keep our unemployed at home and playing our games is a whole lot easier said than done, but unless some action is taken in this regard to redress the situation then the player drain is set to continue to the disadvantage of the clubs and the Association.”

But O’Gorman is fearful that financial woes aren’t the only things tugging on the fabric of society.

“Alcohol and drugs are serious problems nationwide. Anyone who says they are not in their areas are closing their eyes to the problem. The GAA must work hard to keep young people away from these things. And to do that we need more volunteers and more parents to get involved and help out with their own clubs.”

O’Gorman’s spell at the helm came in a time of unprecedented growth of rugby in the province on the back of Munster’s heroics in the Heineken Cup. The oval code has surpassed soccer as the game of choice for youngsters in many schools and parishes. Ironically O’Gorman has welcomed the competition and admits it has forced the GAA to improve its act.

“I am a follower of all sports and I would have to give credit to Munster Rugby for the manner in which they promote their games. They should be admired for that and we have learned a few things from them as well over the years. I wouldn’t envy Munster Rugby, I’d say fair play to them.”

But he wouldn’t be following the Munster blueprint to its conclusion. “I hope we don’t go like rugby did and concentrate on the top teams and lose the clubs. The bedrock of the GAA is the clubs. You can talk all you like about the hopes and aspirations for those bright lights of the intercounty scene. But let’s never forget the average player, or the administrator who never make it into the front line. We are where we are today because of those people.”