By BRIAN CANTY
MATCH BANS OVER TIME BANS
Proposed by: Cork
EARLIER in the week, Cork County Board delegates backed plans to introduce match bans instead of time bans in the GAA’s disciplinary system.
The integrity of which GAA Director General Paraic Duffy described as “sensible” back in March.
The problem arises when there are prolonged periods of inactivity for counties in the championship season, sometimes of up to a month or more.
For example, Kerry play Tipperary in the opening round of the Munster championship on Sunday May 22. The loser won’t play championship again until Saturday June 26, when the qualifiers come around.
In the event of a player getting a red card, it’s unconceivable to think a one-month ban (for the sake of argument) would not impact on his, his county, or an opposing county in that same season.
There is a clear and obvious imbalance in a system where a player may serve no suspension for an offence that earns another player a five-game suspension.
If the proposal is passed, it will come into play on a trial basis for the 2012 leagues and championships.
Cork County board secretary Frank Murphy believes it is worth introducing the motion on a trial basis, and on this issue, I’m inclined to agree.
REDUCE THE WINTER TRAINING BAN
Proposed by: Portarlington, Laois.
THE worst kept secret in the GAA needs no introduction.
A team that’s knocked out of the championship in July can’t honestly be expected to compete on an even keel with the others if a) they start back training in September or October, before having a two-month ‘sos’ before resuming again in the New Year. Or b) Staying in championship ‘til the leaves turn brown, but not starting collective training again until the new year.
The rule as it stands is utter nonsense and it’s little wonder it was so blatantly ignored and disregarded. The merits, though well founded and documented, are far outweighed by a county’s desire and necessity to get back training.
The proposal by Laois County Board delegates to shorten the training ban, therefore, should be one of the most eagerly anticipated issues in Mullingar tomorrow.
If successful, it will see the moratorium on collective training reduced to November. Currently, the closed season extends to November and December.
The O’Moore County Cchairman Brian Allen told this newspaper earlier in the week; “We would be confident enough that there is a groundswell of support for it,” he said. “Any of the counties we have spoken to during our league campaigns have the same views on the close season as ourselves.”
Laois’s motion has the backing of the vast majority of inter-county managers who have cursed the extent of the collective training ban.
Cavan were witnessed breaching the rule on their 3G pitch in Breffni Park last December and dDirector gGeneral Paraic Duffy later wrote in his annual report to Congress: “It does indeed appear that the rule is being broken by a number of inter-county panels.”
Hands up for common sense.
SCRAP ST PATRICK’S DAY CLUB FINALS DATE
Proposed by: Robert Emmets, Antrim.
TO run off the provincial and All-Ireland club championships before the beginning of the following year’s National Leagues makes sense from an intercounty point of view, as it ensures they have a full compliment to choose from when the leagues do start. But from a club point of view... bedrock of GAA... fill in the blanks yourself —.. it makes no sense whatsoever.
If there was ever an advertisement for the club championships to stay right where they are, it was what happened this year in both semi-finals of both codes; some of the most extraordinary games of recent times, the De La Salle v Clarinbridge tie the pick of the lot.
St Patrick’s Day is All-Ireland club final day, and vice versa for many gaels.
Why try and fix something that isn’t broke?
Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/X3fXzjskaso/post.aspx
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