|
A motion from CLG Clontarf will be considered at this month's Congress that would mean adult players would have to play a minimum of four club league games to be eligible to play inter-county championship.
Speaking on the Irish Examiner's Gaelic football podcast, former Dublin footballer Dr Noel McCaffrey explained why he proposed the motion at his own club AGM. It was subsequently overwhelmingly passed at the Dublin AGM last December.
McCaffrey, an All-Star in 1988 and father of six-time All-Ireland winner Jack, said that the split season has solved one problem but worsened another.
"The split season is very interesting in that it has clearly delivered on something that is very important which is certainty around the country to the club fixture calendar. That was viewed as a huge issue and this has solved it.
"That success is being celebrated wildly and widely. It is discussed up and down as a great achievement. I suppose it is, but in tandem with it what has happened is, as an unintended consequence, county players play even less with their clubs now in the split season than they previously did. Some people would say they weren't playing at all anyway. It depends on the county, that has become clear to us as we have gone around our business of consulting counties."
Clontarf have published a detailed document on their website explaining the reason for the motion, the obvious challenges and their plan of action. They have consulted county secretaries around the country and will host information Webinars for clubs.
FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2915 - 07/02/2025 14:25:58
2589903
Link
0
|
|
Was already being discussed in another thread. Can't remember which one.
I maintain my belief that this may be a Dublin solution to a Dublin "problem", but it can't be a one-size-fits-all approach for every county.
Here in Wexford, for example, clubs only have five League matches, from about the start of March to the end of May or early June. They get a sixth and maybe a seventh during June if they're in the playoffs.
Expecting a county player to player at least four of them means expecting him to play almost them all. That's very different to Dublin, where a player would only have to play four club matches out of the 15 they have in their club league.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3341 - 07/02/2025 14:57:00
2589908
Link
0
|
|
Yeah probably was discussed i didn't look through the threads. In Tyrone they start the league late which is May. The championship would be well underway by that stage. If its supposed to be a split season where would they get in 4 league games when some teams are playing inter county championship at the beginning of April.
FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2915 - 07/02/2025 16:20:27
2589920
Link
0
|
|
Yes I recall this being discussed elsewhere. I think the general consensus was that is is a good idea with noble aims but with differences around the country meaning a one size fits all approach wouldn't work.
I would think that a county player should be made eligible for a club game with the expectation that they should play where there is no inter-county game that weekend.
brianb (Kildare) - Posts: 487 - 07/02/2025 16:20:29
2589921
Link
0
|
|
This is an old chestnut of mine that I have harped on about for years…. This thing of county managers ( most of them now outsiders ) having full call on club players is total nonsense… stopping even barely used players from turning out for their clubs.. Players should be allowed play games with their clubs so long as they have say 9/10 days to their next county match..: What's going on even with U20 players at present is pure madness…!
ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 4243 - 07/02/2025 17:29:13
2589932
Link
0
|
|
Clontarf are coming back with a motion to Congress this year. They are suggesting that players must have played 8 times for their club in the previous year to qualify to play inter county football. There is to be an allowance for injuries.
Currently in some counties - inter county players might only play 3 group championship games for their clubs. If the motion is passed - those counties will have to find away of guaranteeing county players at least 5 more games for their clubs.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9440 - 19/02/2026 00:55:33
2657239
Link
0
|
|
Replying To legendzxix: "Clontarf are coming back with a motion to Congress this year. They are suggesting that players must have played 8 times for their club in the previous year to qualify to play inter county football. There is to be an allowance for injuries.
Currently in some counties - inter county players might only play 3 group championship games for their clubs. If the motion is passed - those counties will have to find away of guaranteeing county players at least 5 more games for their clubs." Its not a realistic motion
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18426 - 19/02/2026 10:19:06
2657274
Link
0
|
|
Replying To legendzxix: "Clontarf are coming back with a motion to Congress this year. They are suggesting that players must have played 8 times for their club in the previous year to qualify to play inter county football. There is to be an allowance for injuries.
Currently in some counties - inter county players might only play 3 group championship games for their clubs. If the motion is passed - those counties will have to find away of guaranteeing county players at least 5 more games for their clubs." If the motion is passed wouldn't it require changing the whole inter County games schedule, split season, etc.
Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 370 - 19/02/2026 10:53:58
2657280
Link
0
|
|
Replying To legendzxix: "Clontarf are coming back with a motion to Congress this year. They are suggesting that players must have played 8 times for their club in the previous year to qualify to play inter county football. There is to be an allowance for injuries.
Currently in some counties - inter county players might only play 3 group championship games for their clubs. If the motion is passed - those counties will have to find away of guaranteeing county players at least 5 more games for their clubs." The poor county player will be well flogged if this passes which will surely lead to more player welfare issues and so on. I don't know what the answer is, feasibly some county players could be playing 12 months of the year.
Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1820 - 19/02/2026 11:34:32
2657289
Link
0
|
|
Replying To Square_B: "The poor county player will be well flogged if this passes which will surely lead to more player welfare issues and so on. I don't know what the answer is, feasibly some county players could be playing 12 months of the year." I think intercounty players and coaches should be separate from their clubs and have an option to not return for their club for the season. Shouldn't be told by commitee members how many games they should be playing for their club. It's an honour for a club to be represented at county level. In many cases that will disadvantage them but it should be a players choice. We're often told that intercounty players are the equivalent of elite professional sports people. The level of commitment nowadays is huge. in elite sports the athletes don't go and play at a higher level and then return to their club while they're in their prime at a higher level. Will make scheduling club games a lot easier too, for the vast majority of players who aren't intercounty. As you say intercounty players are getting flogged. Was listening to Johnny Maher yesterday who's only back after injury, happened in a club game. We might see more intercounty players stay fitter if they didn't need to play for their clubs soon after their intercounty finishes.
GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8438 - 19/02/2026 13:39:41
2657313
Link
0
|
|
Replying To Seanfan: "If the motion is passed wouldn't it require changing the whole inter County games schedule, split season, etc." Would think so alright!
Would nearly want to alternate between national league and county league on alternate weekends. Knockout county championship as well possibly.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9440 - 19/02/2026 13:47:47
2657314
Link
0
|
|
Replying To GreenandRed: "I think intercounty players and coaches should be separate from their clubs and have an option to not return for their club for the season. Shouldn't be told by commitee members how many games they should be playing for their club. It's an honour for a club to be represented at county level. In many cases that will disadvantage them but it should be a players choice. We're often told that intercounty players are the equivalent of elite professional sports people. The level of commitment nowadays is huge. in elite sports the athletes don't go and play at a higher level and then return to their club while they're in their prime at a higher level. Will make scheduling club games a lot easier too, for the vast majority of players who aren't intercounty. As you say intercounty players are getting flogged. Was listening to Johnny Maher yesterday who's only back after injury, happened in a club game. We might see more intercounty players stay fitter if they didn't need to play for their clubs soon after their intercounty finishes." All great if you're a club that has lots of lads to fill the void. If you're a small club, that player could the difference between relegation and staying up. I certainly don't want to see any club disadvantaged by having lads play county. I don't pretend to have the solution but clubs can't just be ignored to benefit the county. It can't always be a one way street.
Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1820 - 19/02/2026 15:00:49
2657329
Link
0
|
|
Replying To GreenandRed: "I think intercounty players and coaches should be separate from their clubs and have an option to not return for their club for the season. Shouldn't be told by commitee members how many games they should be playing for their club. It's an honour for a club to be represented at county level. In many cases that will disadvantage them but it should be a players choice. We're often told that intercounty players are the equivalent of elite professional sports people. The level of commitment nowadays is huge. in elite sports the athletes don't go and play at a higher level and then return to their club while they're in their prime at a higher level. Will make scheduling club games a lot easier too, for the vast majority of players who aren't intercounty. As you say intercounty players are getting flogged. Was listening to Johnny Maher yesterday who's only back after injury, happened in a club game. We might see more intercounty players stay fitter if they didn't need to play for their clubs soon after their intercounty finishes." An interesting take but I'd be totally against it. Totally against what the GAA is all about and not at all the direction I'd want to see the association taking
Overdahill (Galway) - Posts: 88 - 19/02/2026 15:12:22
2657333
Link
0
|
|
My view hasn't changed that this motion is unworkable and is basically trying to impose a national "solution" for a Dublin "problem".
Take the example of Lee Chin here in Wexford:
- Our inter-county players don't take part in our Club Leagues. Has long been that way, and nobody has an issue with it.
- Chin doesn't play club football.
- His hurling club, Faythe Harriers, are guaranteed five matches in our club hurling championship all right, but might be out of it after match 5, match 6, or match 7.
- So, if he's supposed to play minimum of 8 matches between League/Championship, hurling & football, then the only way he'd be eligible to play for Wexford the following year would be if Harriers made a county semi-final (if they had to play a prelim. quarter-final along the way), or a county final (if they avoided the prelim. quarter-final).
Either that, or he'd have to tog off for a few club football championship matches anyway, to make it up to the quota.
Anyone remember Seanie Johnston in Kildare????
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3341 - 19/02/2026 16:23:32
2657344
Link
0
|