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Same way as they banned ye if ye played soccer, times ago

Yeah but that was years ago! Players earn a reputation playing for club - sign for a professional county team, dont play club anymore until their county contract runs out!

i'm sure with plenty of money involved something could be sorted out!

This is just a thought i had after reading some of the posts about players striking and also the fact that the US open handball was run by an organisation other than the GAA.

What would happen if there was a split in the GAA? and say, (for example like in darts PDC V WDB or boxings WBA, WBO, WBC Etc)  another organisation set up its own championship. e.g. the GPA All Ireland Championship - sponsored by a few major companies prepared to pump millions of pound into the competition.

This championship is prepared to pay the players to play in an elite championship and break away from the GAA. So like a champions league style professional hurling and football championship is formed, only concentrating on county football! The GAA is left to look after club footbal and hurlingl which is pillaged for its best talent by the county teams!

This is written with my tongue frimly in my cheek, but is it completely ridiculous or a possible doomsday scenario???

When i played football at school, the manager used to get the IT technician to tape all of our matches and then edit them to include some of the more 'useful' passages of play. Then he'd  show it to the team and talk about them - this was in 1990-1993 - wonder is that old school technician the brains behind this 'new' technology!

Why do you need software for this? Surely just videoing a game and watching it back give the same results!! Or is it like these opta stats that they usie in the premiership detailing time on ball, accurate passes, mistakes, etc? Again this can be done by watching the video of the game!

I didnt see the article, was he supporting keeping the u21 competition? The value of the U21 competition is an interesting debate - I understand how it could lead to player burn out, but i firmly believe that the Tyrone team would not have developed to the stage they achieved a few years ago had they not played together for so long at u21 level. However, it could be argued that all the games they played is the reason behind all their injuries now!

Agreed. By the way  good point made there about managers/lads already being paid. What is the scholarship grant all about? The GAA are paying players those grants. Why isn't anyone up in arms over this?

Nobody is up in arms because theres nothing wrong with it and as far as i know the grants are sponsored by private businesses and not from GAA coffers.

We are in a very unique organisation, so why do we have to be pigeon holed into whether we are professional or amateur - the truth of the matter is that the GAA is placed somewhere in between and is very successful in this unique position!

There nordie teams were always competeitive, and had great underage teams and club teams so you cant compair that. Are the players from london or just ex - pats, my point was that these teams will not have home grown talent that is good enough to field a competitive team.

You can compare the Hurling question though! London hurlers proved what is possible if someone has the time or inclination to do something about it! The ex-pats issue is irrelevent, if they are living in the UK and want to play football or hurling they should have some sort of structure in place to meet that need! There are plenty of first or second generation irish lads and ladies would love to play! The problem is that once they get to 14 or 15 there is limited competition for them and they'll only get perhaps one or two meaningful games - its impossible to compete with other sports if we have nothing meaningful to offer!

I don't see the point in this at all, if it was a professional game i would see some point but these clubs are just costing money. Can honestly even see a team from the UK with English players (not ex pats) fielding a decent team in the Championship?

Tankie, i think you completely miss the point. The GAA's responsibility is to everyone who wishes to play the game and develop the sport! There is a huge number of people who play the sport in the UK and the only reason they arent as good as irish players is because they dont have the same regular coaching and matches as in Ireland. My club fielded 12 english born lads in the championship this year and i can honestly say each and every one of them love playing the sport and given the same chances as irish lads would become excellent players. To simply dismiss an effort to promote the game as a "waste of money" is extremely narrow minded in my view and an insult to alot of people who put alot of work in.

Why do people try to promote hurlng in Tyrone? Or football in Kilkenny - sure its a pointless waste of time - your right we definately should only promote our sports in areas where it is successful and the counties and clubs have a chance of winning all irelands!! 

[Job Opportunities]

I noticed this job advertisement on the GAA in Britain website - does this mean that the GAA are finally going to make a meaningful effort to develop the game in the UK or will it have the rug pulled from beneath it after a year if its not an instant success! Looks an interesting job though!

Job Opportunities

09/10/2007

STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF GAELIC GAMES IN BRITAIN – APPOINTMENTS

It is proposed to make a number of appointments in conjunction with the roll out of a Strategic Plan for the promotion and development of Gaelic Games in Britain. (This Plan is being implemented with financial support from the GAA Central Council and the Department of Foreign Affairs (Dion) Fund).

1. Provincial Games & Administrative Manager for Britain

2. Games Development Administrators in London, Hertfordshire, Warwickshire, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Scotland and Gloucestershire.
(Applicants for these position are requested to indicate their preferred choice of location and to do so in order of priority if needs be).

Candidates will be expected to have a good knowledge of the GAA – its Grassroots to National Programme (GNP) in particular – and to have good Organisational, Planning, Communication and IT Skills.

A Third Level Qualification in the area of Sports Administration/Development will be an advantage as will a proven track record in the area of GAA Games Development.

Salary scales will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and the successful candidates will be expected to have completed the appropriate Coaching, Code of Ethics and CRB accreditation.

Interviews for these positions are scheduled to take place in Birmingham on November 6/7.

Please write - in confidence – stating how you meet the above requirements and enclosing a Curriculum Vitae to agibney@admingaa.ie

The closing date for receipt of applications is Monday October 22.

The Provincial Council of Britain is an equal opportunities employer.

Cheers tayto!

Is it 15 a -side? Sounds a bit like hockey to me if they cant' pick the ball up and theres no points - or maybe thats shinty!

Does anyone know if the irish team is just a randomn selection of people put forward by the counties or was there a system of selection in place? I'm actually going to be in Scotland at the weekend and was wondering is it worth my while going out of my way to watch it! Not really bothered if its just going to be a bit of a shambles and not taken seriously!

Excuse my ignorance on the Compromise rules game between shinty and hurling topic and i would like to be enlightened!

What is the pitch like? (size, goals etc) What equipment is used? Hurleys? Shinty sticks? (or whatever they're called?) What are the change in rules from hurling? Is it taken seriously? Is it worth going to watch?

Is that Iggy Jones who played for the Clarkes?

Speaking of Jim McGuinness i believe he is in the frame for the Donegal job! Can anyone confirm that? Whats his history since he stopped playing?

I wonder would the derry management have "done the right thing" and offered Galway a replay had they had have won by a point on sunday after Galway clearly had a point that wasn't given!