GAA’s top table aren’t all turkeys
And to claim I was only ‘watching’ the sheepdog trial isn’t really an accurate description. I was totally absorbed, but not to the extent where I didn’t occasionally catch myself wondering what I was doing.
At one stage I even found myself discussing the aesthetic merits of Ian Jones’ two dogs, Tom and Jess.
My wife, a dog lover, preferred Tom. But I thought Tom’s all-black face made him look a bit sinister. I was having none of it. I heard myself saying that the white-faced Jess was a “far friendlier-looking animal”.
Bear in mind that the aforementioned conversation followed the fist-punching euphoria that erupted when the 17-year-old Cormac Kearins from Sligo and his nine-year-old bitch Ellie delivered a master-class which drew a staggering score of 88.5. The score was all the more enjoyable as it snatched victory away from England by a point. On further reflection, I was able to establish quite quickly how I ended up so engrossed in the Border Collies.
This is what I call ‘the cold turkey season’, the time of year when the GAA fraternity are denied their weekly dosage of football or hurling. A man can find himself doing strange things at this time of year.
To be honest, I wouldn’t classify myself a true GAA fanatic. For instance, at this time of year I have to trawl through county convention reports and write about them. That’s my job. I have to do it. But I know people who actually read those stories. That’s pretty desperate. But like any addict, it’s all about filling the hole, getting the hit.
It’s December. It’s snowing. There’s no action. All of a sudden you’re reading a newspaper story detailing the secretary’s report on underage coaching structures for hurling in the south-east of the county.
Welcome to ‘Cold Turkey.’ One of the main reasons I know that I’m not a real GAA fanatic is because I grew up surrounded by men that really are. There is a man from Lissan and a small part of him dies every time Derry are beaten in the Championship. I would swear his hair becomes greyer in December. But each year, he experiences a wonderful rejuvenation. By St Patrick’s Day, he starts looking younger. Come May, he’s bouncing again.
Such men think nothing of hopping on a bus to Kerry for a League game. Every county has supporters of this ilk, but they are very much in the minority.
With the exceptions of teams that enjoy routine success, the majority of counties don’t receive fantastic support during the League. By and large, it’s mostly the die-hards who attend games during February, March and April.
For all its many advances the GAA remains a summer carnival. Championship games are an occasion. As the importance of the occasion increases, so does the team’s support.
Band-wagon jumping is a deeply-ingrained part of Championship culture. There is nothing wrong with it.
But the challenge remains for the GAA to broaden the appeal of its games. So far, it has largely failed to do that.
The January competitions and the National League are the preserve of the loyal few.
But it shouldn’t really be like this. The GAA’s lack of imagination has contributed to the apathy that has been shown towards the National League.
The pre-Christmas games always felt like a non-event. And the manufactured divisions of 1A and 1B, and 2A and 2B defeated the entire purpose of a tiered League structure.
In more recent times, Croke Park has started to get things right. Starting the League in February instead of October is a good idea. The hierarchical divisions have started to shine a truer light on a team’s standing in the game.
There will be some fantastic games in this year’s Leagues which should draw large attendances. Down v Armagh, Cork v Kerry, Tyrone v Derry, and Kildare v Meath are some of the fixtures that await us.
However, therein lies the problem facing the GAA. Most of the fair-weather supporters will attend one big attractive derby, then stay at home for the other games.
The challenge facing the GAA is to get more supporters attending every League match.
In this respect, the season ticket initiative deserves to be applauded. It is good value and a great idea.
For a one-off payment of €75, supporters gain admission to all of their county’s League games AND the first Championship match. Should the season ticket holder’s team reach the All-Ireland final, the owner is also guaranteed a ticket for the September showdown.
There is also an offer for U16’s. They can obtain the same package as adults for €10.
Considering that it costs €8.40 for an U16 to watch [Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’ in a Dublin cinema, then €10 for at least seven League games and a Championship match is tremendous value.
Yet, while the season ticket is a great idea, more measures should be taken to reach out to the ordinary summer-time fan. The stop-start schedule of games needs to be reviewed. Last year the opening two games at the start of February were followed by a three-week break. The four games in March were then followed by another fortnight’s gap until the final group game.
Ultimately, the GAA needs to consider linking the League with the Championship. If League positions provided the basis for a seeded qualifier draw, it would stop managers from continually downplaying the significance of the competition. After all, it is only the leading Division One teams that win the Sam Maguire Cup.
As we head into bleak economic times, the GAA has provided its members with a value-for-money season ticket. But now Croke Park needs to promote it.
And with petrol costing €6.55 a gallon, county boards need to put home games in venues that aren’t 50 miles away from most of the supporters. It’s only the cold turkey crew who will drive anywhere to watch a match. If it’s not affordable and accessible, the overwhelming majority will opt for the sofa, even if it means watching something far less captivating than ‘One Man and his Dog’.
- Contact: p.heaney@irishnews.com
