Cork County Board secretary criticises GAA calendar season plan

Cork County Board secretary Frank Murphy believes moving the All-Ireland Club senior finals from their current St Patrick’s Day slot would be a retrograde step. 

The first county board meeting of the year was held last night, with Nemo Rangers hosting meetings during the redevelopment of Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Both Murphy and new chairman Ger Lane were united in opposition to proposed changes which would see club championships finished in a calendar year.

Cork’s Central Council delegate Des Cullinane delivered a report from the meeting of January 17, which included a report from the calendar-year workgroup that asked that members take the issue back to their counties for discussion.

Murphy felt strong dual counties such as Cork were not receiving enough consideration and counties playing little hurling would be voting on the proposal. “If they vote yes, at whose expense will it be?” he asked.

While Cullinane pointed out there was a commitment to play All-Ireland final replays on the following Saturday and that counties in latter stages of the All-Ireland would be seeded in the club championships, he accepted such solutions were not entirely satisfactory.

Murphy also outlined concern with regard to the club finals on March 17.

“Why are we amending something which has been such a success? These have drawn crowds of 30,000 or 40,000 and to think they’d be replaced by a league game in Croke Park is a farce.

“I’d also ask, who came up with the bright idea of having All-Ireland replays the following Saturday? It’s easy knowing they never had to distribute tickets.”

Cullinane replied GAA president Liam O’Neill and director general Páraic Duffy had sat on the committee recommending that change. He added: “There was also a Corkman, a GPA man,” referring to former goalkeeper Dónal Óg Cusack, which drew laughter from delegates.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Barry-Murphy is confident Midleton forward Luke O’Farrell will play a key role in Cork’s 2015 campaign. The 24-year old missed last year’s championship through a shoulder injury, impressing upon his return this January. O’Farrell clipped nine points in Cork’s Waterford Crystal opener against UL, sniping 2-3 from play in last Saturday’s semi-final.

“Luke has had a number of injuries over the years and he wasn’t able to give it his best. Last year he had a serious shoulder operation, but so far this year his form has been excellent,” Barry-Murphy told LifeFM last night.

“He has a great pre-season training behind him and I am hoping he can have a great year. While last year was disappointing for him and the fact that he got little game-time, I know he is very determined to have a big 2015. He is a very talented young player and I am sure he will have a great year.”

The Cork hurling manager said victory in Saturday’s decider against Limerick would serve the squad well heading into their league opener against Kilkenny on February 14.

“When you take part in a competition you always want to win it. And now that we have got to the final of course we want to win it.” We have brought a number of players in to train with us and to play in these games, so far it has been very worthwhile.

Before, we were bringing in players for these tournaments and they didn’t have much opportunity to prepare. Whereas now we give them a good few weeks training and you can see the benefits of that.”

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