Paddy Kelly supports CPA plan to address ‘too long’ inter-county season

Recently retired Cork footballer Paddy Kelly is supporting the CPA’s demand for a more condensed inter-county season, saying the current one is “far too long” and “draining” for players.

The 2010 All Ireland winner favours the All-Ireland senior football final being played as early as the August bank holiday weekend to accommodate a better club fixtures programme. And another reason the Ballincollig clubman believes a separate season for the club championship would work best is currently a county like Cork is at a competitive disadvantage trying to accommodate club games throughout the summer while opponents like Donegal and Dublin virtually shut down their club championships.

“I would say that from a players’ point of view, the season is far too long. Say your team’s involvement in the championship finishes in early August. You’re probably meeting again in November, maybe even October if you’ve a new management, trying to put things in place. By the time it comes to July, August, you’re maybe 10 months on the go. And for what? Three or four championship games over four months? For the county player it’s just draining.