WITH THE weather deteriorating this week just in time for the start of the Allianz Football League, the GAA are prepared to create a further dual weekend to alleviate any scheduling difficulties.
According to Feargal McGill, the GAA’s director of games administration and player welfare, the association won’t be moving any fixtures to weekdays.
“We won’t be arranging midweek matches but our options are very different now than a few years ago. We now have the ability to stage double weekends, which is a relatively new departure, so we can put on fixtures on the Saturday before a hurling programme.”
That would have to be on February 25th, as the following three hurling weekends are already designated as double programmes (11th, 18th and 25th March).
McGill said, however, that the inconvenience for the GAA went far beyond rescheduling league matches.
“If we lose a weekend at this time of the year we end up having to take it away from the clubs and that causes mayhem.
“The counties look at the calendar and earmark blank weekends for club activity so if we have to take over one of those, it mightn’t be immediately obvious to the general public but it has a big impact on the association.
“But the other major edge we have now as opposed to a few years ago is that the quality of the pitches is streets ahead of where it was.”
Meanwhile, the Central Competitions Control Committee was considering evidence yesterday in the investigation into the recent controversial All-Ireland junior football semi-final between Derrytresk and Dromid Pearses. A decision is expected within the next few days.
Finally, Tipperary senior hurling manager Declan Ryan has cut seven players from an extended squad ahead of next Saturday’s Munster Cup quarter-final against University of Limerick – including 2010 All-Ireland winner Pat Kerwick.
All-Ireland under-21 medallists Paddy Murphy, James Barry and Kieran Morris have also been deemed surplus to requirements as Ryan looks ahead to the forthcoming league campaign.
Also out are 2011 senior squad members Stephen Lillis and Murphy, who won an All-Ireland minor medal in 2007 before claiming Munster and All-Ireland Under-21 medals in 2010.
In total, there are seven new additions from last year’s All-Ireland final to a current panel of 32 players – including three members of the 2010 All-Ireland winning squad.
Shane Maher of Burgess returns after withdrawing last year due to work commitments while there are recalls for Éire Óg Annacarty clubman Conor O’Brien and Timmy Hammersley, a Clonoulty-Rossmore clubmate of manager Ryan.
Maher’s brother, Donagh, has also been included, along with Johnny Ryan from county champions Drom and Inch, Seán Curran (Mullinahone) and Adrian Ryan of Templederry Kenyons.
