Congress is going to be extremely interesting this weekend…
The GAA brass will meet at Croke Park over the next few days to discuss some of the hot-button topics of the day and a few issues loom large.
Galway hurlers may get their wish to be included in all Leinster age grades, the Club Players Association may be officially recognised and we could see a time-frame installed for the creation of a ‘Super 8’ series in the football championship.
Or, all three proposals and several more could hit the wall.
That is the implacable beauty of Congress.
A ‘Super 8’ format, featuring two leagues of four teams, could be introduced to the football championship on a three-year trial basis. It would mean eight more championship games each summer but should soften the cough of those that claim the current All-Ireland championship structure contains too many mismatches.
Ahead of this weekend’s discussions, debates and votes, several counties are nailing their colours to the mast:
LATEST:After long debate at @MayoGAA meeting of club delegates, Mayo vote to support c'ship restructuring proposals at Congress. #mayogaa
— Mayo News – Sport (@mayonewssport) February 21, 2017
Kerry is also in favour of a ‘Super 8’ but the Cork delegation is expected to vote against it. Last night, there was somewhat surprising news from Tipperary.
Given that the Tipperary football board, senior players and management have all spoken against the proposal, it must come as somewhat of a shock to learn Tipperary’s delegation will back the ‘Super 8’.
The footballers have already lost out on players that have given up their dual duties to focus on hurling. Adding extra football championship games will not lure them back any time soon.
Before a vote was held in the Premier County, on Tuesday, Football Board chairman Joe Hannigan spoke out against the proposed changes. As reported in The Tipperary Star, he proclaimed:
“This motion has been sold on the basis of giving more time to clubs and more money to County Boards, but we feel that we could not work with it.”
He then highlighted the likelihood of a county having to win three qualifier games to reach the quarter final [or Super 8] stage, only to play another three games to reach the semi finals. “Eight games in 11 weeks isn’t a possibility,” Hannigan added.
