Who would have thought people cared so much about Munster SFC?

Irish Examiner

2 days ago

Another decade, another Munster senior football championship row.
The loop theory has been underscored by the latest kerfuffle surrounding this much-maligned competition.
The only difference this time around is Noel Walsh isn't here to stand up for the minnows. The former Munster chairman passed away in 2020 but you can imagine just how vexed he would be by last Thursday's decision by the provincial council to seed the championship in favour of Cork and Kerry.
Walsh didn't get to see his beloved Clare compete in the last three Munster SFC finals as they previously did in the 1910s. You can imagine it would have given him an immense sense of pride.
For nobody fought as hard for parity in the draw. But he was a realist too. When Kerry were winning all around them, he successfully proposed they be given a bye to the final in 1980.
But as counties grew stronger into that decade, the St Joseph's Miltown-Malbay man lobbied for an open format before it eventually came to pass for the 1991 championship, a split decision. Limerick reached their first final in 26 years and a year later the cows in Clare were blissfully ignored.
In the final year of his chairmanship, Munster experimented with a new format and the top three seeded teams earning semi-final berths but the open draw returned in 1999 and lasted until 2007.
The following year, Cork and Kerry were kept apart in semi-final byes, another split decision which Walsh described as 'a black night for Munster football'. He said: "You're asking the impossible of the weaker counties in Munster to try to beat Cork and Kerry in the same year. There isn't a county in Ireland that could expect to do that, never mind in Munster.'
Following outcry, the open draw returned for five more years before the council chose to separate Cork and Kerry again. 'A night of infamy' is how Walsh framed the decision. He couldn't believe it was happening under the watch of a Clare provincial chairman in Robert Frost.
'I think that's (the financial argument) just a spurious argument being put out by the chairman,' he lashed in this newspaper. 'What is more important anyway — a reduction in grants or a fair chance in the championship? We're not a banking organisation.'
Again the boycotting of the McGrath Cup and Railway Cup team led to a compromise from 2015 in the form of the previous year's finalists being given semi-final places but no guarantee they would be separated.
And that is what has endured these past 10 seasons until last Thursday's vote, which similar to the one taken in 2013 has been coloured by finances and resources. Limerick voted no back then but supported the latest motion despite the opposition of their players and management.
According to Limerick manager Jimmy Lee and Clare Munster Council delegate Bernard Keane, the promise of investment in football in the four counties had been floated prior to the vote. We dare say the semi-final byes Limerick received for their football winners from Munster in the provincial championships probably helped too.
The irony of how exercised, if not interested so many people are in the change of draw in a competition that in its five games this year (33,491) attracted less than either the Cork-Tipperary (42,231), Limerick-Cork (42,477) or Cork-Waterford (42,181) 2025 Munster SHC round games is potent.
Having indicated he would do so in May, provincial chairman Tim Murphy has grasped the nettle. Given its five-week timeline, there isn't a whole pile that can be done with a competition that some of those criticising this latest attempt to resuscitate it have called to be scrapped.
Linking league finishes with the championship has precedence, of course, and Cork are the only team who have beaten Kerry since 1992. But there probably should have been prior warning and a delay in its implementation until 2027.
As Clare chairman Kieran Keating pointed out, the county weren't aware upon the league's conclusion in March that as a consequence of their and Cork's performances in it they were also losing an automatic semi-final position in the Munster SFC.
At the same time, Cork weren't relegated, were a point away from promotion to Division 1 and therefore ascending to Division 2 wouldn't have done anything for The Banner. As an aside, was Peter Keane waiting to see the outcome of the vote before committing himself to a second year as manager?
As the four counties consult with the Gaelic Players Association, one wonders what will happen when the 2026 draw is due to take place in October. Will Limerick compel their representatives to change their vote? If that doesn't force a U-turn, with pre-season competitions in line to return next year, it's likely the McGrath Cup will be impacted if it is revived.
At the very least, Murphy has started a debate. There is heat in it but as Walsh would have argued that is necessary. It shows people care. Who would have thought it?
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Kerry's Kayleigh Cronin left for Australia. File picture: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
TG4's ladies and Aussie Rules football conundrum
Dublin's victory in Sunday's All-Ireland ladies senior football final was roundly expected to the point that former Donegal footballer Nadine Doherty insisted Meath would need their opponents to suffer 'a psychological meltdown'.
Doherty made her comments on 'Off The Ball' on Saturday where she also spoke of the impact of the emigration of footballers to the Australian game. 'I think it's decimated our game,' said Doherty, highlighting how Kayleigh Cronin was missed by Kerry in the championship having left after the league for Australia to play for AFLW club Adelaide Crows.
She added: 'I don't like the way our game is promoted alongside the AFL; I think we've eased off a little bit but TG4 show the AFL. I find that absolutely bizarre because you're our biggest sponsor and marketing our direct opponent.
'There are 40 players gone – Kellyanne Hogan, a massive loss to Waterford (Hogan joined Collingwood). Not everybody is able to stay in Ireland for the full season and then head out two weeks before pre-season. There are only the top tier players (who can do that)… I just think it's ruining our game.'
It's rare that TG4 would come in for criticism when they have done so much for the Gaelic games family but it's an interesting point by Doherty. When there is great Irish interest Down Under, TG4 can claim there is a market for what they are showing yet it does seem a mite counter-productive when that sport has taken players away from the indigenous one they endorse.
Ultimately, something may have to give.
Fógra – On August 14, The Friends of Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh come together for a golf classic in The Grange in Rathfarnham, Dublin in aid of two special charities. The fourball event is aimed at raising funds for The Hospice Foundation as well as Camphill Community in Dingle.
To book, visit www.grangegolfclub.ie