Fine Gael TD and former Mayo inter-county footballer Alan Dillon has called for the GAA to push back the inter-county season to the autumn.
Dillon is a legend of the Green and Red, having retired from Mayo in 2017 with two All-Stars, eight Connacht titles, and played in six All-Ireland Football finals.
The split season has, of course, been a cause of great controversy in the media and at barstools.
Deputy Dillon is not a fan.
“I’m all in favour of GAA clubs and club players having certainty with dates and when they are playing. This is absolutely needed as club players, coaches, volunteers and supporters are the lifeblood of the GAA. Without them, inter-county teams will not achieve any success.
“However, it is too early in the year for the senior football and hurling championships to be finished.”
There has been a lot of upset in some quarters of the media that the GAA Championship is wrapped up before the month of July is out.
“We will not have any more action until next January at the earliest – more than five months away. In the meantime, other sports get the attention and coverage the GAA would normally have achieved throughout August and September,” deputy Dillon said."
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3 April 2016; Alan Dillon, Mayo, in action against Kevin McKernan, Down. Allianz Football League Division 1 Round 7, Mayo v Down. Elverys MacHale Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo. Picture credit: David Maher / SPORTSFILE
“Consequently, GAA overall loses out. With all due respect to the club championships, and I value my own as much as anyone else, they will not gain the same attention as the intercounty championships.
“The race for Sam Maguire and Liam McCarthy this year were brilliant, along with the inaugural Tailteann Cup. They kept us enthralled and excited for the last few months. So why lock away your best shows for almost half a year? It simply doesn’t make sense.
“Anyone involved in marketing will say the same. Come the start of 2023, the demand for intercounty games will be immense. It is too long a break from now until then. I would urge GAA officials, club and county board delegates to rethink the issue for future years.
“I know this year’s Congress, held in Mayo in February, agreed a new senior football competition starting next year.
“Great, let’s trial that and see how it goes but we have to re-think the finishing dates of our showpiece competitions. Finishing in July is far too early.”
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