Ryan: Let weaker Munster counties play off for €20,000 holiday voucher

A leading GAA official has called for the Munster SFC to be revamped, with a €20,000 holiday voucher to reward the winner of a play-off between the weaker counties.

Paddy Joe Ryan, the Waterford Central Council delegate says Waterford, Limerick, Tipperary and Clare cannot progress under the current system.

“The four weaker football counties in Munster should play off in a round robin system, or something similar, with voucher worth €20,000 for the team holiday as a prize,” he said.

“I’ve spoken to Niall Carew [Waterford football manager] and some of the senior players, and they’re very supportive of the idea.

“At the moment, what’s the incentive for Waterford, Clare, Tipperary or Limerick? How can those counties improve? Waterford were beaten heavily by Kerry last weekend but we won’t be in the first round of the All-Ireland because that was a provincial semi-final.

“We’ll be in the second round of the qualifiers, and the only game we’ve had is a hammering from Kerry as preparation.”

Ryan believes an All-Ireland B championship or similar proposals would be unsuccessful.

“I’d rather beat Cork or Kerry every 50 years than play in a meaningless B competition. If the system I’m proposing was adopted at least the other four counties would have some match practice before facing Cork and Kerry.”

Ryan believes that’s the only way to preserve the provincial championships at a time when the competitions are being hit by falling attendances.

“People are giving out about Clare-Waterford last Sunday and the fact that there were only 12,000 people there. But if you had no provincial championships, just an open draw, and Waterford were playing Galway in Limerick, say, how many would you have? If Cork were playing Antrim in a football open draw, in Westmeath or somewhere, how many people would you have at that? On the other hand, Clare and Cork could still draw 20,000 to the Gaelic Grounds.”

Ryan says he has been advocating change for the football championship for years. “In my time on the Munster Council I raised this matter for 15 years, and I spoke about it at this year’s Munster Convention as well. The four weaker counties in Munster are practically on the same level. Every county can beat the others on a given day.”