Cooney’s legacy on the line
THERE was vitality about GAA president Christy Cooney’s address to Congress this year. Although it was extraordinarily long (62 minutes), he spoke with authority about the need for change. To the provincial boundaries. To the casual attitude towards what he described as the “cancer” of payments to managers. To the very structure of Congress itself.
It was a convincing oration and yet it is highly unlikely any of the issues will be resolved before his successor, Liam O’Neill, takes the Uachtarán’s pin in Portlaoise next April.
Broaching in words a thorny subject or, in Cooney’s case, three of them, is a sure-fire way of making a headline without getting your hands dirty.
And yet if it is followed up by some spade work, while a president might not be there to pick up the accolades when the dividends are realised, he’ll still be remembered as the man who got the ball rolling.
Former GAA PRO Danny Lynch worked alongside eight presidents, Nickey Brennan being the last.
As he left before Cooney took the reins in 2009, he has not been privy to the inner workings of the Youghal man’s term in office but he knows what makes Uachtaráns tick.
“Most presidents strive to make a mark,” said Lynch.
“They all do by and large think of their legacy. The particular difficulty, and it’s a negative of an administration, is when some presidents get more involved in executive issues purely and utterly for the purpose of leaving a mark.
“Instead of looking at the longer term, they are looking at making an instant impact of populist appeal that might appear to be beneficial short-term but has long-term negative consequences.”
This weekend, Cooney is presented with opportunities to play the long game as well as the short with the Management Committee and Central Council. On his watch and by men he appointed, the structures of the football and hurling leagues could be altered for 2012.
Induced by the return of league semi-finals, it’s this writer’s belief both changes will have more negative than positive outcomes.
Hawk-Eye and the formation of the standing playing rules committee represent more sustainable and healthier options.
There should also be news of the discussion forum on payments to managers. It’s here where Cooney can make a real and considerable mark but he appears to be dragging his heels on the matter.
Really, the two major highlights in Cooney’s presidency so far have been the official recognition of the GPA and the visit of Queen Elizabeth to Croke Park.
But both come with an asterisk.
The GPA deal was an achievement for Cooney just as much as it was for his predecessor Brennan, who made the hard yards on coming to the agreement.
There are claims in some officialdom quarters that Cooney might have driven a harder bargain with the players’ body but he was the one that finally got them into the tent.
The royal trip to GAA HQ was more of a request facilitated by President Mary McAleese, although Cooney’s speech that epochal day was a fine one.
The achievements of former presidents are also pronounced and more often than not they’ve been tangible results.
Seán Kelly will be forever associated with the opening of Croke Park as well as the introduction of new disciplinary procedures and the secondary tournaments such as the Christy Ring Cup and the All-Ireland IFC and JFCs.
If Kelly’s number was 42 Sean McCague was 21 and his role in the peace process was an important one. During his time, the back of the GAA’s Croke Park debt was also broken.
Joe McDonagh oversaw a lot of the redevelopment of Croke Park, paved the way for McCague to get rid of Rule 21 and announced the withdrawal of the British Army from beside the Crossmaglen pitch in 1999, while Peter Quinn is associated with establishing the financial structure and management for the reconstruction of Croke Park.
Apart from his work with the GPA, Cooney’s predecessor Brennan is known for bringing a more business-like approach to Croke Park, giving full-time employees more executive power and fire-fighting against a range of issues like the players’ strike.
Like Brennan, Cooney has found there are not many things they can do to bring the GAA kicking and screaming into modernity. It has matured, it has become a truer reflection of Irish society.
But there remain challenges for the association. Be it the structure of the championships, ensuring the top level games are officiated and administered as professionally as possible or realising Congress in its present guise is not efficient enough.
Payments to team managers is the big one, though. It’s almost 12 months since director general Páraic Duffy drafted his discussion paper on the subject and it is yet to see the light of day.
In April, Cooney stated a discussion forum on the payments would be established within two months. It’s now August and nothing has been seen to be done.
If Cooney’s presidency is to be remembered, there must be action. This weekend can be the start of a barnstorming last eight months in the job — but will it?
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