GPA eyes reduced demand on young stars

GPA chiefs will recommend major changes to fixtures and competitions between January and March in a bid to tackle the demands placed on young players.

The recommendations follow a research project, the largest of its kind undertaken, which focused on the burden faced by those juggling inter-county and third-level commitments.

It is understood that date changes are being proposed to the competition structures during the first three months of the year while there is also support for the U21 competitions to be re-graded to U20.

The full details will be released at the GPA Student Report Launch in Dublin later today.

The research centred on players playing with multiple teams and the demands being placed on them in terms of both their sporting and academic lives.

The report is on the back of a series of student summits earlier this year with GPA officials met with players nationwide to gauge their thoughts. The research also included feedback from academic staff, county and college managers along with the players.

The work is part of the GPA’s continued link-up with third level institutions, with the association currently distributing 430 undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships to student players while also announcing a new Masters Scholarship link up with Waterford IT last week.

Meanwhile a club v county clash has threatened to disrupt Tyrone’s preparations for the All-Ireland U21 Football Championship final on Saturday week.

A full round of domestic league fixtures has been scheduled for this weekend, and the U21 management fear their players are being placed at serious risk of injury ahead of the biggest occasion of their careers.

Manager Fergal Logan is still hoping that compromise can be reached and that a resolution to the issue may be found over the coming days.

But he is fearful that he could lose key players if they turn out for their clubs just seven days before the clash with Tipperary at Páirc Tailteann, where the Red Hands will be seeking a first All-Ireland U21 title since 2001.

“I hope that there’s a level of understanding and a level of common sense applied across the board in Tyrone from top to bottom, be it with clubs, be it with county board, be it wherever,” he said.

“This is a great opportunity for everybody involved, and I would hate it to be put at risk by playing competitive league fixtures within seven days of the final.”

Logan also argued that club league games do not carry the same sudden death implications as a championship final, and that clubs have many subsequent opportunities to redress any setbacks in subsequent games, including end-of-season play-offs.

“I understand all their positions, but there’s a top four, there’s a bottom two, there’s play-offs, there’s a lot of default positions at the end of the year. There’s no default position for us.

“We have tried to facilitate it to date, but there’s only a throw of the dice with this one for us.”

Elsewhere, GAA chiefs have confirmed the camogie league final between Cork and Galway will be a curtain raiser to the Allianz Hurling League decider between Cork and Waterford

The games are fixed for Semple Stadium, Thurles on Sunday, May 3. The camogie throws in at 1.30pm with the hurling underway at 3.30pm. Both games will be broadcast live on TG4.