GAELIC GAMES NEWS:CORK FOOTBALL manager Conor Counihan and his Mayo counterpart John O'Mahony have complained about the decision of congress to reduce intercounty match day panels to 26.
Both men were also unable to clarify whether this means they must also reduce their numbers at training although neither gave any indication they intended to do so when speaking at yesterday’s press conference ahead of Sunday’s National League football final in Croke Park.
“I think we’ve used 25 players overall during the league, and we are drawing out of an overall squad of about 33,” said O’Mahony. “After listening to the reports of congress it’s something that I was amazed at really. I thought that was all decided a number of years ago. I hope that when it’s clarified, that there isn’t an issue there, that you have to work off 26 (in training), because you need at least 30 in a squad. I don’t think it should be any bigger than 30, but I see it as a player welfare issue because – from a management point of view – it makes it more difficult if you have to be picking 26.
“Effectively what you are doing is putting 26 names down on the programme, and ignoring four others or sending them up to the stand.
“It was ironic that that happened on a weekend where the GPA were taken into the GAA family. I think all managers around the country will be very interested to see how that evolves.”
Counihan agreed. “The reality is we need 30 players in training every night so we can create a game situation. Bringing it down to 26, you’re telling four guys every week, ‘Lads thanks for coming in but we don’t need you now’. It’s not a great situation.
“For counties developing players in different phases, having that 30-man panel gave you that liberty to do it. Turning it back now certainly restricts that.”
Donegal’s central council delegate Brian McEniff proposed the motion to congress and it received a two-thirds majority with the only dissenting voice coming from Kilkenny’s Ned Quinn.
Quinn noted that if this was being attempted as a cost-cutting measure it was unlikely to succeed as the four excluded players were likely to travel with their team and sit in the stand. It was also thought to be an attempt to free more players up for club duty but, as O’Mahony pointed out, there will not be many club fixtures clashing with championship weekends.
“Basically, in an amateur game, you need a panel who are totally committed to the cause of what you’re trying to achieve,” said O’Mahony.
“Then there’s always two or three injured, so you’re normally down. But for your training games, the week before you play a championship game you need 15 v 15 and you need your 30 players to work off.
“Then, on match days, you can use a maximum of 20 on match days but, to get guys to commit to the cause, and then if you have to go to them on match days and say ‘no you can’t be part of us today’, that creates a divide. And it’s creating a divide that I thought was got over, when the panel had been increased to 30 a few years ago.
“But the effort that these guys put in, for them to see their name on a programme on the match day, it might be only a very small issue from the ordinary punter’s point of view, or sending them up to the stand rather than the dugout, I just feel that’s going to become a big issue in the championship.”
Both managers also questioned the restriction of water carriers to the field of play.
“Now, all it will mean if it’s not changed, is that you will probably have lots of fines for the summer,” added O’Mahony.
Both teams are expected to be announced after training tonight. Keith Higgins and Enda Varley are Mayo’s major concerns, while Peadar Gardiner is out with a broken hand but veteran midfielder Ronan McGarrity has been passed fit along with Barry Moran and Aidan Kilcoyne.
Cork are missing a number of last year’s regulars with Graham Canty, Anthony Lynch, Pearse O’Neill and John Miskella due back for the championship opener against either Kerry or Tipperary on June 6th but dual player Eoin Cadogan’s stress fracture of his foot is of greater concern.
Sligo make two changes from the side that beat Roscommon for Saturday’s Division Three final against Antrim at Croke Park.
Francis Quinn from the Shamrock Gaels club replaces Gary Gaughan at left half forward and Tubbercurry’s Colm McGee comes in at right corner forward in place of Stephen Coen.
LIMERICK (SF v Waterford):B Scanlon; M O'Riordan, C Mullane, A Lane; D Carroll, P Browne, P Ranahan; J Galvin, J O'Donovan; J Mullane, C Joyce-Power. S Buckley; G Collins, J Ryan, I Ryan.
SLIGO (SF v Antrim):P Greene; C Harrison, N McGuire, R Donovan; K Cawley, M Quinn, J Davey; T Taylor, S Gilmartin; A Costello, M Breheny, F Quinn; C McGee, K Sweeney, D Kelly.
