Frank Murphy critical of GAA plans to condense club championships

Cork GAA secretary Frank Murphy has voiced his grave reservations at the proposal to condense the club championships into the calendar year.

In his annual report to next Sunday’s convention, Murphy questions the wisdom in bringing forward the playing of the All-Ireland club finals and says any potential “advantage” in no way justifies the “serious impact” a condensed calendar would have on clubs.

At the root of his concern is the pressure that would come on dual counties to run off their local championships earlier than is now the case; subsequent loss of revenue; and the scrapping of All-Ireland championship replays which, he believes, would hinder the game at all levels.

“The bringing forward of dates for the All-Ireland finals will impact down the line on the scheduling of the provincial championships. Two further weeks or more will be lost for club championship fixtures,” argues Murphy.

“The intensity of inter-county competition in July has made this a virtually closed month for club competition. Is June now also to be added to this problem? Where stands Rule 6.21 (a) which allows inter-county players 13 days free of club championship games? It is to be reasonably expected that inter-county team management will insist on this preparatory period being kept free.

“Essentially, counties will be forced to play most of its club championship games from September onwards. This may be acceptable to some counties with limited programmes, but not suitable to counties with extensive dual clubs/players to provide for.

“Are the county championships in such counties to be run off on a blitz basis, with attendant reduction in publicity time and loss of revenue? The financial returns of county championships are crucial to the funding of inter-county teams which are not adequately funded by team expenses/grants.”

Murphy adds: “In order to achieve our deadlines and ensure our county championships are qualified in good time for the provincial championships, it is already necessary to begin our championships in April. Earlier scheduling will clash with the national hurling and football league.”

Murphy also takes umbrage with the proposal to play the All-Ireland hurling final in late August and the football decider in early September. “The shortening of the period for our ‘shop window’ inter-county championships and the loss of most of September will diminish publicity and promotion of our games. Similarly, the dispensement with replays will adversely affect promotion, publicity, and finances needed to fund our activities at all levels.

“The current playing of much of the All-Ireland club series in the New Year affects few clubs throughout the country. We have not heard the clubs that have been involved demand this radical change.

“The playing of the All-Ireland club finals leading into the Christmas festive period and county convention times is not conducive to promotion or attendances.”

The Cork U21 hurling team were dumped out of the Munster championship by Waterford back in mid-June and Murphy criticises Munster Council’s decision to fix the game while the Leaving Certificate was ongoing. “The timing of the game was unsatisfactory. A number of Cork players were not available for selection because of the importance of the examinations to their academic future.”

Income for the year reached €2,876,299 a slight increase on the 2014 figure of €2,561,691. Gate receipts rose to €1,008,239, a 0.7% hike on last year. Overall expenditure jumped from €2,944,462 to €3,185,216, with team expenses (€1,442,670) rising by 4%.