National Forum

Club players v county board

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Guys can I get an opinion on this
I hear a lot about supporting the club player but in reality is there any support
I know of a club in Meath that in March requested a free weekend for the 12 tj of August and confirmed it in June with the cccc 12 of the first team are due to fly out this Friday but the county board have fixed a game for Sunday
The club has tried to the the game changed with no success and will be forced to play a bit part team when a win would put them in the 1/4 final
Personally I think this shows a total disrespect to the club players who have trained hard since January and are expected to give up€400 they paid because the CB won't change one game
What can club players do

Bomber26 (Meath) - Posts: 4 - 08/08/2016 08:54:12    1897801

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st annes (a club in wexford) requested next weekend off in JANUARY as many were off to a wedding in america.the county board fixed matches recently for this weekend.
things county boards want clubs for:
1. selling tickets
2. producing county players
3. being quiet in the summer months.
4. accepting 3 matches in 8 days in september/october/november.
5. following the inter county game.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 08/08/2016 09:38:34    1897824

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Isn't it ironic that the suggestion here is county boards have no respect for clubs because they are fixing important games for the middle of August! I'd have sympathy for both sides here. In a dual county like Wexford it must be difficult enough to plan a fixture list anyway without adding planned weddings/stag party's to the mix. At the same time it's hard on players who dedicate so much time to then miss a big game. I would hope the 2 clubs involved could agree to a rearranged date that would work for everyone.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 08/08/2016 10:34:42    1897864

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last Friday week, the day before Cork played Donegal, Peadar Healy decided to add Kieran Histon to the Cork panel. It was this lad first time on the panel since we played Donegal in the league (in February). he had been on the under 21s and the Cork junior team throughout the year. There were no injuries to any players and no indication that he would be brought onto the team.

His club, Cobh, were down to play their county final on the very same day. Because of a whim from the manager, all other Cobh players supporters and managers as well as their opponents (Ballyhooly) were nonchalantly told 24 hours before the game that their big day (the county final) was being cancelled so a player could watch a game in Croke Park. It is ridiculous and shows what respect our management have for clubs (the county board support them).

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 08/08/2016 15:30:53    1898145

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What would have happened if the player said he wasn't interested in joining the Cork panel this late in the year?

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 08/08/2016 15:42:12    1898148

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Replying To bennybunny:  "last Friday week, the day before Cork played Donegal, Peadar Healy decided to add Kieran Histon to the Cork panel. It was this lad first time on the panel since we played Donegal in the league (in February). he had been on the under 21s and the Cork junior team throughout the year. There were no injuries to any players and no indication that he would be brought onto the team.

His club, Cobh, were down to play their county final on the very same day. Because of a whim from the manager, all other Cobh players supporters and managers as well as their opponents (Ballyhooly) were nonchalantly told 24 hours before the game that their big day (the county final) was being cancelled so a player could watch a game in Croke Park. It is ridiculous and shows what respect our management have for clubs (the county board support them)."
No respect for clubs Benny. I'm sure lads had to travel from Dublin, abroad etc? Why was a county final organised the same day as intercounty game?

I have family and friends who play football in Clare and county board show Clare football no respect. They wouldn't move a round of club fixtures on the bank holiday Monday. Clare played on the Sunday so lads couldn't stay around in Dublin sunday morning with a game the following day. The Clare country board regularly organises championship on Sunday evenings. This is unfair on lads who live in Galway, Cork, Dublin who 3,4 hours that night and get up for work the following morning. Nobody cares about the welfare of club players. Wait around 3 months to play a match and competition is blitzed off in a couple weeks

Gael85 (Dublin) - Posts: 1433 - 08/08/2016 15:52:52    1898153

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Replying To perfect10:  "st annes (a club in wexford) requested next weekend off in JANUARY as many were off to a wedding in america.the county board fixed matches recently for this weekend.
things county boards want clubs for:
1. selling tickets
2. producing county players
3. being quiet in the summer months.
4. accepting 3 matches in 8 days in september/october/november.
5. following the inter county game."
Spot on & it's a story replicated around the country every year. I once sent in a request in January for permission for a team to play in a tournament abroad in the Summer months as the rules dictate. Permission granted & a commitment given that that particular week would see no game for us. Lo & behold as you can guess, game fixed, no movement on it & a denial that request was made, despite official permission been given to play. It is an absolute joke & the summary by the Wexford poster above sums it all up. As to your question what do you do, my advice is leave the frustration behind as it will literally eat you up esp in the Gaa & go & play something else. Even on this site it's all about Inter County, clubs & club players are second hand citizens. My sons are gone on holidays from work & couldn't care less what games are fixed as they are completely disillusioned with games over the years.

moc.dna (Galway) - Posts: 1212 - 08/08/2016 16:24:18    1898168

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Replying To perfect10:  "st annes (a club in wexford) requested next weekend off in JANUARY as many were off to a wedding in america.the county board fixed matches recently for this weekend.
things county boards want clubs for:
1. selling tickets
2. producing county players
3. being quiet in the summer months.
4. accepting 3 matches in 8 days in september/october/november.
5. following the inter county game."
Just because one club requests a weekend off that would mean all clubs would suffer. It is not possible to have a free weekend in August. If players were committed to there club they would have stayed around.

mrfox (Wexford) - Posts: 338 - 08/08/2016 16:40:37    1898184

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Replying To Bomber26:  "Guys can I get an opinion on this
I hear a lot about supporting the club player but in reality is there any support
I know of a club in Meath that in March requested a free weekend for the 12 tj of August and confirmed it in June with the cccc 12 of the first team are due to fly out this Friday but the county board have fixed a game for Sunday
The club has tried to the the game changed with no success and will be forced to play a bit part team when a win would put them in the 1/4 final
Personally I think this shows a total disrespect to the club players who have trained hard since January and are expected to give up€400 they paid because the CB won't change one game
What can club players do"
It's a disgrace alright.

I believe clubs should stand strong together against poor county boards for example in this case both clubs should refuse to play

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 08/08/2016 18:11:25    1898247

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Replying To Soma:  "What would have happened if the player said he wasn't interested in joining the Cork panel this late in the year?"
?????

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 08/08/2016 22:54:00    1898456

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Replying To mrfox:  "Just because one club requests a weekend off that would mean all clubs would suffer. It is not possible to have a free weekend in August. If players were committed to there club they would have stayed around."
They asked 8 months in advance. Should be a accommodated as a once week. More to life than sport

Mullerm (Cork) - Posts: 87 - 08/08/2016 22:57:37    1898459

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Replying To Gael85:  "
Replying To bennybunny:  "last Friday week, the day before Cork played Donegal, Peadar Healy decided to add Kieran Histon to the Cork panel. It was this lad first time on the panel since we played Donegal in the league (in February). he had been on the under 21s and the Cork junior team throughout the year. There were no injuries to any players and no indication that he would be brought onto the team.

His club, Cobh, were down to play their county final on the very same day. Because of a whim from the manager, all other Cobh players supporters and managers as well as their opponents (Ballyhooly) were nonchalantly told 24 hours before the game that their big day (the county final) was being cancelled so a player could watch a game in Croke Park. It is ridiculous and shows what respect our management have for clubs (the county board support them)."
No respect for clubs Benny. I'm sure lads had to travel from Dublin, abroad etc? Why was a county final organised the same day as intercounty game?

I have family and friends who play football in Clare and county board show Clare football no respect. They wouldn't move a round of club fixtures on the bank holiday Monday. Clare played on the Sunday so lads couldn't stay around in Dublin sunday morning with a game the following day. The Clare country board regularly organises championship on Sunday evenings. This is unfair on lads who live in Galway, Cork, Dublin who 3,4 hours that night and get up for work the following morning. Nobody cares about the welfare of club players. Wait around 3 months to play a match and competition is blitzed off in a couple weeks"
We frequently have games on intercounty match days. Being honest, there would be little point in cancelling all fixtures when Cork footballers are playing as they have so few supporters anywhere.

The Cork County Board actually do a reasonable job in running off the junior B championship. The football and hurling final are always on in mid summer and get a big crowd. Their biggest problem this year was appointing a manager (nice person) who is completely out of his depth, who has used far too many players, passed a load of them off, passed off the clubs and commands no authority. Histon from Cobh is not the first player to be dropped into the team or panel from relative obscurity this year but the board should have put their foot down and not allowed a final to be cancelled.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 08/08/2016 23:07:43    1898469

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Until the clubs form a national body nothing will change - the sooner the do that the better

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 09/08/2016 01:09:14    1898517

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soma/mrfox they asked for 1 weekend off 8 months in advance. I am sure they could play mid-week if necessary, and I am sure Kilaneirn would have accommodated them if they got plenty of notice.

Now I think the commitment and patience of amateur players who waited all summer needs to be respected. I see more and more instances in my own club of players going to stag parties, holidays, etc Players are disillusioned with the club game and are no longer willing to put their lives on hold to play the game.

And rightly so, if the GAA can't get their house in order, and continue to treat the club player with such disrespect, don't wonder why club people don't go to county matches any longer, which is very much becoming the case.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 09/08/2016 08:40:59    1898551

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Replying To bennybunny:  "?????"
I presume the player was asked onto the Cork panel and had the right to turn down the invitation? Had he said no would the club final have gone ahead and would he have been allowed to play in it?

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 09/08/2016 10:12:45    1898588

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Replying To Pinkie:  "soma/mrfox they asked for 1 weekend off 8 months in advance. I am sure they could play mid-week if necessary, and I am sure Kilaneirn would have accommodated them if they got plenty of notice.

Now I think the commitment and patience of amateur players who waited all summer needs to be respected. I see more and more instances in my own club of players going to stag parties, holidays, etc Players are disillusioned with the club game and are no longer willing to put their lives on hold to play the game.

And rightly so, if the GAA can't get their house in order, and continue to treat the club player with such disrespect, don't wonder why club people don't go to county matches any longer, which is very much becoming the case."
Midweek not possible with u21 and minor championship going on. I have seen several lads arrange there weddings so as it doesn't clash with championship weekends. It's crazy for any club in wex to think that they will get a weekend off in August considering the way championship has run the last few years in the county.

mrfox (Wexford) - Posts: 338 - 09/08/2016 10:19:53    1898601

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If Tipp were to win both semi finals, there wouldn't be a club game played in the county till near October and thats having played their last match 6 weeks ago. Then they'll expect the same players that are wrapped in cotton wool all year to play 2 matches a week.

Then to really rub salt in the wounds of clubs players, the GAA show what and who they care about, they want to have more county matches with this round robin format at instead of quarter finals.

Joe_Bloggs (Tipperary) - Posts: 186 - 09/08/2016 13:31:12    1898764

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mrfox in all fairness they had 8 MONTHS to avoid a clash. Surely they could have played a round earlier in the year, or something.
Now if they couldn't avoid a clash with 8 months notice I think it is time to leave it so.
And I see 4 clubs in Tipp thrown out because the county board wanted them to play without inter county players. The gap between the clubs and county boards has never been bigger.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 09/08/2016 15:25:55    1898875

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It's very tough.

Usually in other sports amateur teams can easily request free weekends. It is much trickier in the GAA. The county boards don't have many free weekends to play with themselves.

Really for a lot of counties August is when club action is really supposed to hot up. It's not really practical for clubs to be requesting weekends off then.

Ideally the solution for me would be to run off the county season quicker. Have the All Ireland finals on the August bank holiday weekend and then devote the rest of the year to club championship. It's unlikely to happen anytime soon. Until then county boards have very little freedom to play around with fixture scheduling.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4226 - 09/08/2016 18:29:19    1899005

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Replying To Pinkie:  "mrfox in all fairness they had 8 MONTHS to avoid a clash. Surely they could have played a round earlier in the year, or something.
Now if they couldn't avoid a clash with 8 months notice I think it is time to leave it so.
And I see 4 clubs in Tipp thrown out because the county board wanted them to play without inter county players. The gap between the clubs and county boards has never been bigger."
When could it have been played. With the movement of the Wexford v dub and wex v Kildare match forward this caused delays in championship already. Over the last couple of years there has always been a weekend off directly after the last county senior team are knocked out. This did not happen this year club hurlin chamionship was played straight away after Waterford bet us. One club cant hold up the championship because of a wedding of someone who is not even playing with them.

mrfox (Wexford) - Posts: 338 - 09/08/2016 18:52:38    1899026

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