Player power.
The redressing of the balance of power is taking place before our very eyes in the GAA with players taking a stand and saying, ‘no more’.
These are the guys training five and six times a week, these are the ones who are the cash cow at inter-county level and, yet, time and time again these are the ones being screwed over.
After Cian O’Neill and the Kildare footballers stuck it to the man by refusing to play their home qualifier game in Croke Park, the hurlers of the county were also served a raw deal.
Fresh from winning the Christy Ring Cup, they would have play a playoff to make the next step up – and they’d have to do it days later.
On Thursday night, both panels of Kildare and Antrim released a strong statement in opposition to the fact that they’d have to play a playoff and that only five teams would be in the Joe McDonagh Cup – especially when that’s changing as on next year and, strangely, not this year.
So Kildare are calling for Antrim to remain in the competition, Antrim are calling for Kildare to join them.
It’s a powerful coming-together of two sets of players from rival counties looking for more than just common sense. They’re looking to be appreciated and have their voices heard.
As it stands, the game is still going ahead in Armagh but the times, they are changing.
#WeDeserveBetter #PromoteHurling pic.twitter.com/bYJ5j12eiK
— James Burke (@jamesburke1999) June 28, 2018
