“When does a club player become a club player?”
In a highly congested GAA season, that question is as loaded as it comes.
With the inter-county game veering away from amateur to professional, clubs are getting increasingly put out by clogged fixtures, games postponed on whims of county boards and some of the best talents being unavailable for selection.
The Club Players Association was launched at Ballyboden St Enda’s earlier this week and The GAA Hour went along to discuss just what the aims for the upcoming few years are. Host Colm Parkinson met a host of men dedicated to giving club players a voice amid the cacophony.
Declan Brennan, the CPA secretary, recalled a recent conversation he had with Tyrone star Mattie Donnelly about the juggling act between club and county commitments. He commented:
“I’ll say that Matthew Donnelly said to me there – ‘Listen, I want to win an All-Ireland with my country but it shouldn’t be to the detriment of my club.’
“That is what’s happening at the minute. If you want to win the All-Ireland at this level, it is to the detriment of your club. We want to change that.”
Liam Griffin, who is also involved with the CPA, raised a valid point about how so few players are being properly served by the current situation. He said:
“Everybody wants to be the best they can but Jack McCaffrey’s club [Clontarf] have to give up Jack McCaffrey and he can’t play in the league for his own club. Neither can two others.
“Now they get beaten in the league and they can’t get into the first division. That’s in Dublin but who gives a shit [because] they won the All-Ireland?!”
On the flip side, he also pointed out the dilemma facing players who have helped their club into the All-Ireland club football and hurling semi-finals. They may be top stars, veterans or young, hungry players close to a county breakthrough but they are not allowed to line out in inter-county action.
“What chance does he then have of playing inter-county [later] this year?”
No-one is happy with the current situation but will it change? It will be an interesting year.
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