Football and the GPA

Football has improved, there is no doubting that. Cork would be great to watch, going by the scoring in their games. Donegal’s machine looks like Jimmy has the correct oil. Dublin are slowly coming to terms with the game following the thriller in Tralee. Ethan Rafferty could be the first name on the All Stars long before autumn. The site of a Meath midfielder taking a running leap to claim the ball over Down heads was reminiscent of the early 90’s football boom. And to top it all off the GPA still seem to forget about the rest of us.

The Outlook

So the game is improving, of that there is no doubt. Teams are scoring more. Players are attacking quicker. People are kicking the ball forward with more intent. Forwards are…forward. There’s a lot to like. However, there are many things that are not perfect.

Tyrone and Mayo showed that the game can still be boring. They laboured on the ball looking for the opportunity. Derry played in a similar vein for 35 minutes, before Paddy Tally made a change. Suddenly there was a player with enough brains, or possibly just plenty of balls (possession) and guts. Lachlan Murray decided that a lot of time, opportunities don’t present themselves and in Gaelic football you need to create them, so he did. He played football, he went forward, he kicked the ball, he showed intent, he got a point for what seemed to be wide. Sometimes the harder you try the luckier you get.

Donegal showed the more measured approach and hit 20+ scores for the third game in a row. They also had enough to stop Armagh who the week before against Tyrone showed they have the ability to develop into more than the one hit wonders many think Sam was. At times Donegal fell into the boring, almost repetitive game that people wanted changed. Bang, then like the A-Team and that famous quote about a plan coming together the methodical movements created a score. I long to see them on the hard ground in May, June or even July.  But can Jimmy’s control deal with the chaos of a quicker game in the later part of the year?  I don’t know but they look the best placed currently.

Ahh the GPA

First off I want to clear up that I am not ‘anti-GPA’. I’m not against players benefitting from their role. While it was ridiculous, I was entertained by the Paddy Power branded hurls back in the noughties and found it novel. If someone is prepared to pay Joe Canning or Brian Fenton to show off a few skills as part of an advertising campaign then by all means Joe, Brian and anyone else who can benefit should be allowed.

Recently Shane O’Donnell made the point that his image was used without his consent.  The GPA are in the perfect place to support him on this and should do. Although it is a very murky area where photographers have rights on the images they take and then the individuals in them have rights…..I’m sure you can see where I am going – out of my depth.

Now the recent Indecon report found that senior inter-county games generated a whopping €359 million in direct spending, supported 4,212 jobs, and contributed to €353 million to the economy. It said players were almost €1500 worse off than in 2018 and lose out on €3500 annually in overtime earnings.

I haven’t seen anyone dispute the figures. The figures for me are not the issue many have. I believe it’s in how the GPA publicise these types of reports and how their own branding comes across.

Think of the players

Tommy from Monaghan takes to the road at 5 on the button (sometimes earlier if he has the flexi-time accrued) from his office in Dublin to get home two, maybe three nights a week in the height of summer to train and line out for his club. 

Doireann has worked in Galway for 2 years and in that time has travelled twice a week home to club training and for games 55 minutes out the road. She’s a teacher, she doesn’t get overtime but she is losing out on her preparation and admin time. She does that work in the weekend or on the nights she doesn’t travel.

There’s not a player across Ireland or playing GAA across the world who doesn’t give up something. Most county players get benefits the club man could only ever dream off.  An easier career path. Friday morning off the real work to attend a function as an ambassador for the company – and talk GAA with the other supplies or potential clients.

Volunteerism is why the GAA is such an iconic and strong organisation. The GPA need to learn how to fight their corner without creating a disconnect from the rest of the association.

I don’t know of any county player who was forced to play last weekend. They may feel pressurised, but so does Malachy the groundsman who left his wife to look after the grandkids when he opened up on Sunday past for an Ulster league game – only to find it was called off. 

We all start with dreams of playing club and county. We all give something, and yes we get things in return. Mostly the warmth created inside when teams win, when the Feile comes to town, when the children march behind the flags for the U8 blitz like they are in front of The Hill, when the neighbour up the lane pats you on the back to congratulate you after the semi-final win despite cursing you for years for banging the sliotar off the barn wall. We bake for coffee mornings, we donate to the fundraisers most of the time with no expectation to win but out of a sense of giving, we get off work early on a Friday for the club training weekend away in Donegal a month out from championship. We all do it some way or another, not just those lucky to be selected to represent the county.

And for me that’s where it is at, yes they give their time, yes they could definitely be out of pocket, yes it creates so much for our economy. Don’t forget though, Joan has washed the kits for the past 3 years because her husband takes the team, Hugh drove every week with his and other kids to every match for 10 years on his own diesel, and as for the economy.. its old Mick and Con who haven’t missed a match home or away for 15 years (covid excluded – despite their attempts & arrival at said ground 2hours away) who pay €15 during the league along with other expenses for the journey.

To the GPA, I urge you, don’t forget the rest of the GAA during these reports and promotions. We support you as county players and club players, the connection is there from you were in Hughs car for U12 right up to Paddy shakes you hand and commiserates the return from the provincial loss. And we’ll always be there. Don’t disconnect