Dublin's James McCarthy says GAA season ‘a mess’

Dublin footballer James McCarthy says the existing GAA season is "a mess" and has to be addressed by the powers-that-be.

The Ballymun Kickhams man backed up his manager Jim Gavin’s claim earlier this month that players are frustrated with the format of the season and believes it has led to the number of overuse injuries in Gaelic games.

McCarthy laments the lack of a defined break period in the year for inter-county players.

“There’s no structure to it. You’re just going from one competition to the next. You do have time off but it’s a bit of a mess. You’d just like to know you’ve a set time off like six weeks off. There is surely a way to tidy the thing up. They have to do it.”

He would like to see alterations made to the Championship and has encouraged the GAA to be radical in their thinking. “They’ve been talking about the Champions League. It’s definitely something to look at. Look at all the other sports like Aussie Rules, football. “I think we have to try and move with the times and learn from these and not be so old or ancient. Just move with them.”

Although all the indicators point to it, McCarthy is not yet certain whether he will go under the knife early next year to address a groin problem. The same osteitis pubis has sidelined or currently is sidelining several of his team-mates from Alan Brogan to Dean Rock.

McCarthy can’t help but think the demands of the almost 12-month season has contributed to such injuries. “I look after myself. I’m beginning to think it is. I haven’t had much time off to be honest and just going for long seasons and playing a lot of games. It must be, it has to be, just the volumes I guess it eventually gets you.

“We have lads who have more wear and tear than breaking bones or things like that. It definitely is a factor, particularly those years at 20 or 21 when you’re playing 21, senior, club, college. I’m delighted I can just concentrate on the one team now.”

Meanwhile, Gavin yesterday hailed the impact of Dublin chairman Andy Kettle who passed away on Tuesday. He told RTÉ: “From a Dublin football perspective, we had a very open relationship with Andy and his office. Andy saw it as a partnership, as we did, and everything we did was totally focussed on doing the best for Dublin GAA and the association at large to that end.

“Andy attended our training sessions, attended our team meetings. He came with the players on the bus. He was there in the dressing room. He was on our shoulder in times of victory and defeat, and if one was going to battle, Andy Kettle was someone that you would have on your side.”

Kettle’s removal takes place in St Brigid’s Church, Rolestown at 7pm this evening. Funeral mass is tomorrow at 11am.