Ulster GAA slams decision to halt pre-season competitions amid fears it could result in six-figure loss

The Dr McKenna Cup attracts crowds of over 30,000 football fans every January.

The decision was announced last week, and is part of a wifer ongoing debate surrounding an overhaul of the current All-Ireland Football Championship format.

A new Championship format for 2026 is scheduled to be voted on at the GAA's Annual Congress early next year.

The Dr McKenna Cup, which takes place each January, generates a lot of income from streaming and attendance. It also has a long-running sponsorship agreement with Bank of Ireland.

In a statement, the Ulster Council pointed to the results of a recent survey of counties, which was presented to Ard Comhairle members, indicating a preference for the retention of pre-season competitions.

A spokesperson for Ulster GAA said: "While disappointed that there will be no pre-season competitions in 2025, Ulster GAA accepts the decision of Ard Comhairle.

"We fully understand the issues around player welfare articulated by the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and others and we recognise the importance of the proper balance being struck between the welfare of our players and the overall games programme.

"We were surprised at the decision of Ard Comhairle, given that the results of a recent survey of counties, which was presented to Ard Comhairle members, indicated a preference for the retention of pre-season competitions. The decision will result in the curtailment of some of the programmes that Ulster GAA offers.

"However, the decision has been made and there is now a clear onus on the GPA to ensure that the return to train protocols and date are strictly adhered to by their members."

The Railway Cup and Ulster Senior Hurling Championship ended in 2017 and 2018 respectively, and it seems people within Ulster GAA are worried the hugely successful Dr McKenna Cup will suffer the same fate.

Meetings of the GAA’s An Coiste Bainistíochta and Ard Chomhairle took place on Friday and Saturday, and the decision to suspend any pre-season competitions for one year was made.

The organisation also advised that a return to training date would be decided at the next meeting.

In an interview with RTE Radio 1’s Morning Ireland earlier this summer, president of the GAA Jarlath Burns hinted that a major change to the Gaelic football format could come into effect towards the end of this year, and added that the championship should have a lot more “jeopardy” to it.

“We’re doing consultations at the moment with the provinces,” Burns told Morning Ireland back in June. “Last week we were in Leinster and Munster; this week we’re in Ulster and Connacht. We will then discuss it at our next Ard Chomhairle meeting. 

“One of the themes that’s coming through really is the lack of jeopardy.” he continued. “A lot of people – and I share this view – (believe) that the league is there as a development competition. You’ve seven games that allows teams to make incremental developments and improvements.

“The championship should have jeopardy. It should be more of a blunt instrument. The clue is in the title of the competition – the championship is there to get the champions.”