‘Six-day turnaround is wrong’

THE compressed six-day period available for beaten provincial football finalists to recover before entering the All-Ireland qualifiers is “inherently unfair”, according to former Down defender Conor Deegan.

The system drew sharp criticism last season when Sligo and Monaghan exited the All-Ireland qualifier race after succumbing in their own provincial deciders. A Congress motion to extend the recuperation period to 13 days failed to garner the necessary two-thirds majority in Mullingar last month.

“It’s wrong, end of story,” Deegan said.

“Why are you being victimised for losing a provincial final? You saw Down last year getting a great draw by beating a Sligo team who had the six-day blues. It’s inherently unfair.

“I think the GAA have to put their hands up and say it’s not right. There’s plenty space in the calendar and there’s no need for it.”

Deegan believes the entire GAA calendar is in need of an overhaul and points out that club footballers “are being left to rot” while the inter-county championships are played off during the summer months.

“The whole thing needs an overhaul when you look at club footballers being left to rot for long stages of the season.

“Our club footballers are being screwed in the process, they’re getting very limited football over the course of a season. I remember back in the mists of time when we won an All-Ireland semi-final and had to wait six weeks to play in the All-Ireland final. It was crazy and in that whole time, there was no club football allowed to be played. When all is said and done, a county footballer starts and finishes with his club.”