Nugent: FRC proposals unworkable for dual counties

Tipperary chairman Sean Nugent believes the Football Review Committee’s proposal to have all county semi-finals completed by early August does not give enough consideration to dual counties.

Tipperary along with Cork will be voting against the recommendation when it is brought up as part of the FRC’s structural report at today’s Central Council meeting in Dublin.

“We would be opposed to that,” said Nugent. “It would be impossible for a dual county to facilitate that. I think other dual counties have made that point as well. It would just be impossible for a county like Tipperary to reach that, even if you were out of the Championship early.

“I don’t think they (the FRC) looked into that. Fixtures are a particularly complicated affair, particularly in a dual county. In recent years we have been reasonably successful in football and that has added to the difficulties.”

Nugent also cast doubt about the feasibility of finishing the All-Ireland club championships in the calendar year, as supported by the FRC.

“It’s something desirable if it could be done. The problem we see is that it puts more pressure on club fixtures and to start championships earlier than they currently are. At the moment we are forced to start club championships in April and that means there’s a very long period before the conclusion of those championships.

“While we feel it’s desirable to have them completed in the calendar year, we don’t see it as being a possibility, with the way things are structured now.”

Tipperary are also in line with Cork, Mayo, Donegal and several other counties in retaining the current Championship structure, and not the four eight-team provinces as put forward by the FRC.

“Even though we would have some difficulties with the province at the moment (senior championship seeded draw), we would like to stick to the traditional provincial side of things.”

Nugent also said Tipperary are willing to give International Rules series the benefit of the doubt for now.

“We have mixed feelings about it but we’d be happy enough for it to go ahead. However, if the Australians are not putting out their best team and not committed, then it would be better to let it go.”