Cork GAA Discussion Thread

AnClar14959713 wrote: »

As Cork are defending champions of the All-Ireland U20 football grade, I felt that this would be the right thread to post the following. Does anyone know what are the chances of the 2020 All-Ireland U20 Football Championship moving back to a February and March date, being passed at this Saturday's special GAA congress, due to take place in Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork?

Personally I see no benefit in this competition being played in the early Spring months, due to the ongoing Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cups being played at that time. For me there are way too many inter-county and college games played in the Winter and if county delegates give this motion the go ahead, then the wider issues of fixture congestion and player burnout will resurface once again.

Another issue if the AI U20 football championship goes ahead next February, is the issue regarding those eligible to play U20 grade and whether they can still tog out for their counties in the League? It is my opinion that this motion is misconceived and if a February U20 AI Football Championship start is approved by delegates, it would lead to many problems, some of which I have already mentioned.

In my own counties case here in Clare, our "centre of excellence" in Caherlohan is not fit for purpose and if we get a very wet and unsettled winter, the issues of finding a proper pitch and facilities, that can satisfy both players and management, to ensure that management and players are getting the best preparations possible at that time of year, would be virtually impossible.

It is in this poster's opinion that any attempts by county delegates to support a move for the U20 provincial and All-Ireland football championship to an early winter start, those delegates, who are meant to have best interests for players at heart, are putting player welfare out the window and are not serving the good of the U20 player, in particular a third level college student, who could have the following schedule from next month onwards (see below).

Our U20 club football championship is still in progress along with the Minor club football championship in Clare and both competitions won't be completed until the end of November. Don't forget that some players in these U20 football squads are still in secondary school who are playing in post primary schools GAA competitions. There is also the issues regarding many lads playing other sports outside of GAA. Are we basically saying that by approving a February start for the U20 All-Ireland football championship will have no impact on player welfare and burnout? I hope that delegates see sense and reject this crazy proposals on Saturday, for all those reasons that I have suggested.

It is an issue that is of huge concern to me for a long number of years now and imagine what parents of lads involved in college, senior and U20 squads who are in the firing line of these proposals think? Lets hope that delegates give this motion the ultimate red card in Cork in 48 hours time from now is my hope. Here below is the likely schedule for a player who is studying in third-level college and is part of both county senior, U20 and their senior college panel from the start of next month until just before April 2020, the start of the designated club month.

1st of November: Preparations continue with the respective third level colleges ahead of the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cups and other 3rd level GAA competitions
1st of December: Senior inter-county training commences
1st of January 2020: U20 inter-county training commences, U20 pre-season competitions may also take place along with challenge matches
1st week of January: Senior pre-season competitions commence
Mid-January: Sigerson Cup begin until late February
Late January: National Football and hurling leagues commence until late March
Mid-February: Provincial U20 football championships begin until mid March
Late-March: The conclusion of the All-Ireland U20 Football Championship