John Costigan: St Patrick’s Day club finals date must remain sacrosanct

Long-standing GAA official John Costigan says the vast majority of director general Páraic Duffy’s burnout, welfare and fixtures proposals must be endorsed by Congress next month – but is opposed to the implementation of the calendar year.

Former Tipperary chairman Costigan has served on several committees such as the original burnout group in 2007 and the minor review group as well as other national GAA bodies such as the Central Council, the Central Competitions Control Committee, and the Central Hearings Committee.

Even as a self-professed traditionalist, he believes in reducing minor level in football and hurling to U17 and bringing forward the All-Ireland senior inter-county finals by two weeks.