76% to 24%.
Motion passed.
Back in February 2017, after Paraic Duffy had travelled to nine different counties to discuss the GAA’s footballl championship reform proposals and the same man made himself available for media interviews, Congress deliberated over a change to the quarter-final stage of the competition.
Despite Duffy being questioned by Colm Parkinson on The GAA Hour about the glaring issue that Dublin have two games in Croke Park whilst every other side has one home match, nobody thought to raise this at Congress. And, actually, nobody even brought it up in any other media outlet in the build-up to that fateful day.
Niall Erskine introduced the motion and immediately seemed to take a defensive tone but he gave the idea a good plug anyway.
“Another thing that’s discussed widely within the association is centring our games around Dublin and Croke Park,” he said.
“This motion, if passed, will bring our games back – some of our very important championship games – to our county venues.
“Imagine Down playing Kerry in Páirc Esler. Imagine Cork in a spanking new Páirc Uí Chaoimh playing Dublin. Imagine Antrim, perhaps in a spanking new Casement Park, playing Mayo.”
It was nice imagery alright and the dream was sold on that picture he painted because everyone, in their excitement, licked their lips at the prospect of having Dublin or Kerry at home and didn’t really care that Dublin would have two home matches themselves.
The benefits were summarised with three points by Erskine.
- It will finally lead to the condensing of the schedule of games in the provincial championships.
- It will bring our games back to our county venues.
- It will address the training to games ratio.
Then he concluded:
“If you wish to oppose these proposals, just consider what the alternative is because there doesn’t appear to be too many on the clár today.”
You know what they say: never let perfect be the enemy of ah it’ll do.
But nobody raised an eyebrow in the room – never mind their voices – about the advantage Dublin would get.
It seems that no-one actually gives a shit until it’s their own county being screwed over and directly affected because, at the time, it wasn’t discussed as opposition or even as an amendment.
That ignorance, or over-excitement, is worrying considering how unapologetic the GAA were in announcing this format.
Paraic Duffy admitted to Colm Parkinson on the show that the system does give the Dubs an advantage.
Duffy: Well, Dublin will play their home games in Croke Park, so that does give them an advantage.
Wooly: That does give them an advantage. I’m surprised at that.
Duffy: To be fair to Dublin, that’s no different than it is at the moment. The one thing this would guarantee would Dublin is that they would head down the country. They’d be travelling down the country on a regular basis.
Wooly: Why would Dublin’s neutral game be in Croke Park? Why not be fair about it? Move them to O’Moore Park, to Nowlan Park. Make them go out of Croke Park because that’s their home venue. If it’s supposed to be a home and away basis, why do Dublin get the advantage of having theirs’ in their home ground?
Duffy: It’s a point. It could be looked at.
Wooly: Would you not think about that before you make a decision like that? You know fingers are going to be pointed in the direction of, ‘the GAA want more revenue out of the Dubs.’ When you’re sitting down to do that, would you not do it on the fairer basis rather than, give them Croke Park and allow these proposals come at you.
Duffy: Well I’m sure if this proposal is passed, there’ll be plenty of tweaks and changes before the final version comes out. If we were looking at the financial side of it, you’d say right, we’ll play all our games in Croke Park.
Come Congress, however, and the only mention of this was a thrown together sentence by Erskine talking about a ‘neutral venue’. The counties and delegates didn’t care too much to have them elaborate.
Cork
Cork were the only county who voiced opposition but their concern was player welfare and the demand on inter-county footballers to play three games in 15 days.
GPA
Dermot Earley of the GPA signalled that he had been mandated by the players to vote against this but, after a stinging rebuke from Jarlath Burns and a number of other counties highlighting that they, too, have consulted players, Earley’s contribution was insignificant.
Then, it was just a barrage of support for change to the All-Ireland quarter-final system.
Galway were wowed by the provincial grounds factor.
“The idea of having a game at a neutral venue, a home venue, and an away venue is certainly very attractive for the counties involved.”
A neutral venue.
Sean Kelly said he reluctantly supports the motion and started banging on about a tiered championship and, for some reason, the hurling.
The Cavan delegate was still on a high after playing Dublin at Breffni Park in the league a few weeks before and he was telling others that they could do the same – yeah, they could… in the league.
Donegal supported it because it shortened the season – the season could’ve been shortened regardless. Actually, the season definitely could’ve been shortened even easier in the previous format considering it had less games.
Kerry liked the idea of seven other venues benefiting from a major match.
Meath said their clubs unanimously accepted the proposal. They also said a home game gives them incentive to get to the last eight. Glad they finally found a reason.
Connacht argued against the argument that provincial winners are no longer getting a reward because they have three quarter-final games to play anyway.
“Surely getting a match at home is an incentive. Surely getting a second chance – which they don’t get at the minute – is an incentive. Surely bringing the games around the provinces is a great idea.”
Kerry v Mayo in Limerick was “a brilliant occasion”. I always hate when memories from the current game are used as reasons to change the game.
Mayo wanted to “start the process” of change and then put it to the room that the GAA are always “accused of being reluctant to change. This is our opportunity to put that to bed.”
Monaghan lumped in too – time for change.
The Middle East county board were sold on the prospect of more games to help promote the games. Of course, they could never have known that the TV rights would stay the exact same and no more games would be shown – actually, even less football matches than last year would be.
Finally, Aogán Ó Fearghaill has to ask for members of the opposition to come forward and speak.
“In the interest of balance, is there anyone who’d like to speak against the motion?”
Instead, they get someone sniping at the Club Players Association and another plead to pass this modest motion.
“If people have ideas, we are a democratic organisation. We don’t need other organisations.”
And, so, 76 per cent of the GAA vote to put the plans through in their current form.
Some voting for a shorter season, some wanting any change at all to the stagnating championship, others wanting a home game in the quarter-finals.
But not one sinner took issue with Dublin getting two home games. They care now of course when it affects their own county.
You can watch the debate below from 27:58.
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