Provincial structures to stay, says Cooney

GAA President Christy Cooney believes that the provincial Championships are here to stay, and that there is no hunger for change.

Speaking at today's All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship launch, Cooney feels that GAA members throughout the Association are keen to keep the provincial structures in place.

"There is no issue, irrespective of what I read or heard, from anyone to suggest that the provincial structures should go," he insisted.

"Absolutely not. There is nobody putting motions on the clar for change. There is no desire for it.

"Anyone in the counties that I talk to say that they want the provincial Championships to stay - for a number of reasons, I suppose. One is tradition and, secondly, provincial councils are able to control their own finances.

"They are able to give significant grants out to clubs but they are also able to support coaching, games and development in a significant way. It is important for them, so I don't see any change in my presidency."

Cooney said that both he and GAA director general Paraic Duffy were of the same view that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", when it comes to the current competition fabric.

"I would be of the same view as Paraic (Duffy) in that I don't see anything that would be better than it.

"When somebody comes forward with a competition that has a better structure and standard of play, we will have a look at it."

Last week, Derry senior football manager Damien Cassidy pointed to what he said was an unfair and unbalanced structure, but Cooney believes that the organisation of competitions has benefited the GAA over the years.

"It has been that way for 125 years; it didn't become unbalanced today and it has worked well," added the President.

"The important thing for all counties is that they have a chance to win Championships and be in with a chance of playing at Croke Park in September.

"If you ask the Derry team would they want the chance to win an Ulster Championship, you can bet your life they would. Armagh and Tyrone would tell you the same. It is a stepping stone to an All-Ireland final."

The 'open draw' system has been discussed and debated over the past decade, but Cooney is not keen for the GAA to move to such a system for the Championships.

"I don't believe it would work and people talk about home and away. God almighty, you saw how many Cork fans travelled up for a National League final. How many will go to Donegal if they draw Donegal in an away game?" he said.

"You look at what is going to be in Ballybofey this year. It is going to be a gigantic game there. The Derry and Armagh game the same. Cork and Tipp (in the Hurling Championship), Kerry and Tipp will be a clinker this Sunday.

"So, I wouldn't underestimate the competition at all and there is still a huge importance for teams to win their provincial titles. We haven't found anything different, let's be honest."

However, one 'experiment' which has drawn satisfaction from Cooney is the entry of Galway and Antrim into the Leinster Championship, which was trialled for the first time last year.

He believes that the Tribesmen and the Saffrons have a long term future in Leinster.

"I do. I thought the game I saw between Galway and Kilkenny in Tullamore last year was a tremendous game and it added enormously to the Leinster Championship. It (the Championship) had a greater balance to it and it had great games.

"I think it is there to stay. That is my personal view. I think it brings a better balance to the hurling Championship and it is better for Galway and Antrim as it will show whether they are really improving or not.

"Having won the Walsh Cup and the league already this year, there is now a massive incentive for Galway to go on and win the Leinster title and it is really going to test them. It brings great competition to them."