Walsh: Change could kill off All-Ireland
The Kerry native made the stark prediction in response to the multitude of championship restructuring ideas that have been submitted to the Football Review Committee.
“When you’re asked about provincial structures and you say, ‘they have to stay’ people say, ‘well what would you expect from him, he’s in a provincial council, he’s old school’,” said Walsh.
“I have never been afraid of change. I have voted for change at several stages of my time with Kerry and at Munster level. If I felt there was a need for change with the provincial structures and somebody came up with a better idea than what is there at the moment I would consider it and vote for it.
“But in the present climate and looking about at what is being proposed, losing the provincial championships to me would signal the death knell of our championships within 10 to 15 years.”
Walsh is adamant an open draw would not generate as much revenue for counties as provincial games.
“Firstly, from a financial aspect, I’m very conscious that there are county teams that generate money for provincial councils. We took in something like €3.3 million last year and gave out €3.1m to the clubs and to the counties in grants for developments and grants by way of preparing county teams, match expenses and field rent.
“We did a tour of the six counties over the last six or seven weeks in relation to our development grants and gave them figures that most of them got €3.5m to €4m over the last three to five years.
“I don’t believe two neutral teams playing in the middle of the country is going to supply that kind of money because nothing will replace a Munster hurling final or a Munster football final if you have the right combination in football. But in the Munster hurling championship, there is no qualifier that can equal any of its games.”
Walsh also pointed out the back door system has demonstrated that an open draw won’t work.
“When the qualifiers first came out the numbers going to games were high but it waned off the second year and it has never reached that level ever again.
“My fear is that if we opt for an open draw situation in 10 years the All-Ireland championships will be practically killed.”
Walsh has heard about conferences replacing provinces, comprising four equal groups of eight, but doesn’t buy into that idea.
“In the past, the idea has been mooted to move some counties into different provinces but if you look at the periphery around Munster, moving Kilkenny, Wexford or Offaly into the Munster football championship is not going to help the Munster football championship.
“They won’t add an awful lot to it so then you’re going back to four eights and an open draw and that would bedisastrous.”
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