91% of Kerry All-Ireland winning squad agree with split season model
Kerry players, from left, Dylan Geaney, Paul Geaney, Conor Geaney and Tom Leo O'Sullivan celebrate with the Sam Maguire cup after the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship final match between Kerry and Donegal at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
A vast majority of the Kerry senior footballers agree with the split-season model, according to data presented to county delegates last week.
A Kerry GAA review into the issue of possible burnout for inter-county players and availability for local championships was presented at the recent county committee meeting. The review committee was made up of Kerry GAA coaching officer Joe Costello, Kerry's head of high performance Jason McGahan, Kerry footballer Paul Murphy, Mid Kerry GAA chairman Mike Sayers and Noel Kennelly, the former Listowel Emmets chairperson.
Their work was informed by a GPA survey of the Kerry senior panel taken in January 2025. It revealed that 91% of Kerry senior footballers agree with the split-season model. In addition, 92% believe that November should be a no-contact / no-training month for inter-county squads and players.
Some 56% support reducing training and playing demands on inter-county players if the current amateur status is maintained.
On the issue of a no contact November, last year the GPA successfully campaigned for the suspension of pre-season competitions. They were later criticised by several provincial officers for failing to step in when counties reportedly breached this training ban.
As reported earlier this week, pre-season competitions are set to return in January 2026 with confirmation expected to come at this weekend’s Central Council meeting in Croke Park.
Meanwhile, Galway are the latest county to announce a committee to review their hurling structures. At a County Committee meeting this week, the makeup of a Galway Hurling Advisory Group was announced. It includes David Collins (former captain), Shane Cusack, Aoife Lane, Kenneth Burke (minor manager), Frannie Forde (senior coach), Colm Callanan (former goalkeeper), Frank Lohan (two-time Clare All-Ireland winner), Claude Geoghegan (hurling chair), Liam Gordon (2025 All-Ireland final referee) and Gavin Keary (U20 manager).
Last month Wexford GAA announced they are working on a new strategic plan with Limerick's multiple All-Ireland winning coach Paul Kinnerk and Michael McGeehan involved as consultants.
This will include a root-and-branch review of Wexford hurling set to begin in September.
