Derek McGrath’s opinion on counties going gung ho for the league is simple:
“It sounds like a manager making it easy for himself…”
The GAA was never really about the league. At any level, in any part of the country, the league is used as preparation for the championship.
Yes, it gets feisty and heated because we’re inherently competitive and we want to win – we want to win anything – but, when all is said and done and the championship trophy is lifted, no-one gives two shits about who won the league.
Nowadays though, more and more counties are placing stock in their performances and results in February, March and April. Sure, playing better opposition every week can only help you come summer but the idea that winning in the league really means something is getting overblown. Likewise, the idea that losing in the league means that much either is foolish.
This is pure, brilliant sense https://t.co/0NfMasAFlu #Waterford #GAA
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) March 13, 2017
Derek McGrath has won the league with Waterford. He’s lost a league final with Waterford. Now, he’s looking over his shoulder at Kilkenny in the relegation places behind him.
Each of those realities are as immaterial as the next. McGrath will be judged on the championship whether other managers or county boards try to change that culture or not. Or at least pretend like it’s changed.
Limerick hurler Shane Dowling spoke on The GAA Hour last week about how they’re not bothered about being in Division 1B. They can still qualify for the quarter-finals of the league – easier than they could in Division 1A – and they can still get ready for the summer.
McGrath backed him up in a brilliant interview.
“It’s a bugbear of mine – I’ve been on about it the whole league campaign – in terms of… not the lack of enjoyment with the league but the lack of wiggle room in team selections and that. A staleness definitely develops.,” the Deise boss explained.
“Our theory on Limerick [in the division below] – like it is for every other county bar Kilkenny and Tipp at this stage – is that there is absolutely nothing between ourselves, Limerick, Galway…”
McGrath takes a bit of comfort from seeing some of his peers have their eyes on the big prize too.
“I came home on Sunday night and I was in fierce humour [after the Cork defeat] about how we played,” he told SportsJOE’s GAA Hour.
“You’re home and you’re watching the tele and you’re barely talking to your children and that. Then, all of a sudden, I’m thinking about Mícheál Donoghue who I’d have regular correspondence with. I’m saying to myself, ‘Jesus, I wonder is Mícheál Donoghue in Galway tonight worried about not having promotion.’ He really has his eyes on the championship.
“Sometimes you just have to live in your own ignorance in terms of your tunnel vision approach to where you want to go into the summer and how competitive you want to be.
“I completely agree with Shane Dowling [his interview is here]. It becomes pub talk almost – it becomes ingrained in people’s attitudes and it becomes ingrained in county board officials’ attitudes too I think in terms of the potential earnings that come from playing so-called top opposition and the gate, that becomes a factor. And that can seep into a team dynamic.”
Listen to the full brilliant interview below (from 38:10). Or subscribe here on iTunes.
