Peter Canavan says that the GAA doesn't give a toss about the club player.

Winnie Peg · August 18, 2009, 09:49:25 PM

I have just read in the Irish Star that Peter the Great has said that the GAA doesn't give a toss about the club player.
This is something that I wholehaertedly agree with. The club programme is stuffed in anywhere at a moment's notice, normally in late autumn and winter yet the hierarchy claims that the club is the grassroots of the association. I say it is just a mechanism to make money for the county boards to develop elite county teams.

rootthemout · August 18, 2009, 09:57:10 PM

more to do with county boards not fixing fixtures when county players are involved in championship,county players rarely get to train or play club football,needs to go back to the way it was players play for their club and get grace a week before county games

rrhf · August 20, 2009, 09:11:12 AM

and neither does the GPA Peter.

irunthev · August 20, 2009, 09:45:46 AM

There is a simple economic equation that governs the GAA's approach to club and county football.

The sum of money generated by inter-county games > the sum of money generated by club matches.

The structure of this basic formula can be used when trying to understand all decisions made by Croke Park by merely substituting various values either side of the symbol e.g.

Sum of money generated by U2 > cost of repairing pitch in the middle of a Championship.

Sum of money generated by screwing people for All Ireland tickets > sum of money generated by not screwing people for All Ireland tickets.

No disrespect to Peter and I haven't read the article, but odd isn't it that he played county football for 15 years and never thought to mention this before. Only now that he can't get his hands on his county players for his club side is it an issue.

under the bar · August 20, 2009, 10:12:01 AM

I doubt those were his words somehow. If you aren't going to post the article at least quote him directly!

tonesfirstandlast · August 20, 2009, 10:15:40 AM

I think it is great that someone of Peter Canavan's stature has said this as no gives a dam about club football. In Derry the county takes over the players, no football in June or July and then when the county team is knocked out they will squeeze the games in anywhere to get them out of the road.

LandErIn · August 20, 2009, 12:41:41 PM

Aye club football and hurling schedules are nothing short of a disgrace.

I think all competitions should be straight knock out, club and county. There are too many games to manage.

Zulu · August 20, 2009, 12:51:35 PM

QuoteI think all competitions should be straight knock out, club and county. There are too many games to manage.

Jesus will people please stop spouting this rubbish, we want people playing the games not training for 5 or 6 months for one or two games.

longrunsthefox · August 20, 2009, 05:23:52 PM

did he only figure that now as he is a club manager?

armaghniac · August 20, 2009, 05:31:14 PM

QuoteJesus will people please stop spouting this rubbish, we want people playing the games not training for 5 or 6 months for one or two games.

Hear hear. Do we want the Kerry's and Crossmaglen's of this world having complete seasons while everyone else plays a handful of games.

There is a great deal of twaddle spouted on this issue. Counties with unsuccessful county teams often have as chaotic a club scene as those with successful county teams.