Third level GAA rule book has ‘too many loopholes’

UCD football manager John Divilly believes the credibility of the Fitzgibbon and Sigerson Cup competitions has been seriously damaged by the eligibility controversies involving players from IT Carlow, IT Sligo and QUB.

The All-Ireland winning Galway footballer accused colleges of manipulating Comhairle Ardoideachais (CA) bye-laws in their bid for third-level glory. Divilly said the third-level rule book is undermined by “too many little loopholes”, calling on Croke Park top-brass to implement stricter eligibility guidelines.

IT Sligo and Queens were thrown out of the Sigerson Cup for fielding ineligible players in their first round clash, but both colleges were reinstated on appeal to the Central Appeals Committee (CAC).

IT Carlow hurlers, meanwhile, were expelled from the Fitzgibbon Cup 24 hours before they were due in quarter-final action. Ballyragget native James Gannon — a part-time Business student at the college — was deemed ineligible under CA bye-laws. Their appeal to the CAC was also upheld in the early hours of yesterday morning.

“I do believe the credibility of the competition has suffered given all that has gone on this year,” said UCD’s Sigerson Cup boss. “Over the last 20 years, there has been a lot of question marks over a lot of different players at a lot of different colleges. I think the powers-that-be have washed their hands of it. It is very unfortunate on the players and colleges that have been incorrectly caught out.

“It should be very black and white if you are eligible to play or not. The rule book states you can play at third-level provided you have not undertaken more than two courses and haven’t been in college for more than six years. They do need to tighten it up a bit more than that, however.

“There is too many little loopholes here and there in the rule book. It needs to be unambiguous. Different courses have different credits, we seen that with the IT Carlow hurler. If you are in college and are studying a full-time course, then you should be able to play.”

Divilly voiced his frustration at the growing practice of offering lucrative scholarships to inter-county footballers in return for total commitment to the college’s flagship team. Regard for the player’s academic wellbeing is non-existent, he lamented.

“The rules are a small bit up in the air. Colleges don’t know if a player is eligible or not and are taking a chance. A lot of it is innocent. Some, unfortunately, isn’t innocent. It is well thought out, well planned and manipulated — offering guys big scholarships to come to different colleges. This practice is rife. I don’t need to name the colleges in question.

“They are offering them courses, but at the end of the day they don’t really care about what they come out of college with. They want them simply for a couple of months’ football.

“It is important players are studying the courses they want to study, football should play no role in that. The pressure then on these players to play football is huge because the scholarships they are getting are huge. If they get injured, they feel terrible. Hopefully the controversies this year will force CA to tighten up the rules.”

The clock/hooter was trialled at last year’s Sigerson Cup, and, indeed, in the latter stages of the league prior to Christmas. Though initially earmarked to be present this weekend, plans to roll out the hooter at the Mardyke were recently scrapped.

“I think it is fantastic in Ladies football. It takes a lot of pressure off referees,” continued Divilly. “Players are fearful of it because they feel time is lost if the referee does not put up his hand to stop the clock during an injury.

“I think the hooter makes things a lot easier. The players and supporters can see when the game is approaching a finish, it creates a bit of excitement. There is nothing wrong with trying it. Definitely, in all county grounds for league and championship fixtures at senior inter-county level it should be trialled.

“Everyone was afraid of the black card initially, that has worked on a whole. It will only better the game so I think the hooter should also be given a fair go.”