Latest news with #DavidHassan
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
The Schemozzle: Dominance of Dublin and Limerick may be over, but GAA anxious about lack of contenders
Professor David Hassan, chair of the GAA's Amateur Status Review Committee, was interviewed on RTÉ radio's This Week show on Sunday. Prof Hassan explained his role and that of the committee. 'The association that is the GAA has been concerned for some time regarding, I suppose, symptoms of activity that would indicate some pressure being exercised upon its amateur status,' he said. Responding to a question from host Cian McCormack about how money, or the lack of it, could afford some counties an unfair advantage, he agreed. 'I suppose that would be a concern also for the association, in so far as the competitive balance between counties has been itself under some scrutiny in recent years. Put simply, the concern is that a smaller number of counties are now realistic contenders for the All-Ireland senior football and hurling titles.' READ MORE It's interesting that, even though Limerick's hurlers and Dublin's footballers have come back to the pack , the GAA are still hopeful their flagship championships will become more open. In football, there have been four separate winners in as many years, which points to a competitive championship. In hurling, seven different counties have played in the All-Ireland senior final in as many years, which compares quite favourably with previous eras. Even the 'revolution years' of the 1990s, famous for the novel final pairings produced, only saw eight different finalists in a decade. Baptism of fire for talented goalkeeper The sideshow around the Galway hurlers' goalkeeping situation took another twist on Sunday. The Tribesmen had submitted their official team sheet for the Leinster SHC final against Kilkenny , which was distributed by the GAA on Friday. Regular number one Darach Fahy was listed between the sticks despite being suspended. In the end, Éanna Murphy lined out in goals but he picked up an injury when he tangled with Mossy Keoghan as the latter hit the net just before half-time. Enter Darragh Walsh, a talented young goalkeeper from Turloughmore. 'Darragh was goalkeeper with the 20s last year,' said Joe Canning on the Sunday Game Live. 'Darragh is a brother of Conor. Seán Walsh of Galway Bay FM, everybody probably knows him, he's his son. 'Darragh is a good goalie but still, you're going down to your third-choice goalie so it's a big occasion for him.' Co-commentator Michael Duignan chipped in. 'I think it's bigger than they're saying in the studio,' he said. 'It's huge for a young fella to come on and play his first championship game in the Leinster final.' Unfortunately for the debutant, he spilled a tricky late ball which led to Kilkenny's third goal in a 3-22 to 1-20 win for the Cats. Wexford's Jack Higgins fists a pass despite the attention of Antrim's Eoghan McCabe and Joseph Finnegan during the Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final at Wexford Park on Sunday. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho Life gets harder after Tailteann Cup success The curse of the Tailteann Cup continues. The first winners, in 2022, were Westmeath, who failed to win any of their next nine championship matches until, back in the Tailteann, they beat Antrim this year. Meath won it in 2023. Within just over a year, they had parted company with their manager, Colm O'Rourke, after winning three of 11 matches in 2024. Last year's champions were Down, who were subsequently relegated to Division Three. In fact, the form of last year's renewal looks generally suspect now. Runners-up were Laois, who finished in sixth place in Division Three and exited the Tailteann Cup with a heavy reversal against Westmeath on Saturday. Antrim also made the semis last year. A very disappointing 2025 for them, which included relegation to Division Four, was wrapped up on Sunday when they lost by 11 points to Wexford in the preliminary quarter-final. Camogie's gulf in class needs to be tackled Going by the weekend's results, camogie has a problem which won't be as easily remedied as the skorts controversy. The one-sided nature of too many matches is a real issue. In the senior championship on Saturday, Tipperary beat Wexford by 32 points (7-18 to 0-7), which wasn't even in the top two most lopsided matches. Elsewhere, Waterford defeated Derry by 43 points (5-30 to 0-2) while in the premier junior championship, Armagh were 58-point winners over Louth. Armagh led at half-time by 6-22 to 0-0 and added another 1-15 unanswered after the break for a 7-37 to 0-0 victory. These results weren't outliers, either. Derry lost by 4-25 to 0-5 against Galway in the previous round, while Cork beat Limerick by 38 points (6-25 to 0-5) on the same weekend. Quote 'Even at this early stage of the second half, it seems like it's game over.' – Darragh Maloney loses track of time as Kilkenny hurler TJ Reid hits the net in the 57th minute of the Leinster final against Galway. Number: 1-12 Dylan Hyland's scoring return for Offaly in their Tailteann Cup win over New York.
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- General
- The Irish Sun
GAA tackling elephant in the room by launching survey around potentially paying inter-county managers
THE GAA's Amateur Status Review Committee has issued a survey as it seeks feedback from members on whether inter-county managers should be paid. The questionnaire was posted on the GAA website yesterday with the committee, chaired by Professor David Hassan, looking to preserve the association's amateur status. Advertisement But payments to managers is part of the wide-ranging survey and participants are asked if they 'support the introduction of an agreed allowance for senior inter-county team managers or, indeed, whether adherence to a strict expenses model should be enforced'. Questions also include whether the GAA's amateur ethos should be governed, reducing the number of hours inter-county players give to the cause each week, and if foreign training camps should be banned. One of the other major issues is spending on inter-county teams, which GAA president Jarlath Burns — Advertisement Read More On GAA 'I know of no one in the GAA who feels that our amateur status is something to be abolished. "Yet within that, we have a situation where the preparation of inter-county teams is costing more than €40m and placing unsustainable burdens on our volunteer-led county boards. "The time demands on players are also at an all-time high. "Establishing the views of our members and players is critically important. Advertisement Most read in GAA Football Comment Comment 'I urge people to make the most of the opportunity to have their voice heard.' The ASRC will bring recommendations to Central Council chiefs this autumn and any motions could potentially go before Annual Congress next February. 1 6 May 2025; Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Jarlath Burns speaking at the launch of the Tailteann Cup at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile Tipperary GAA star 'had to do live apology on RTE' the day after cursing during All-Ireland interview -
Irish Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
GAA to seek public feedback on whether county managers should be paid
The GAA is inviting the public to give its views on whether inter-county managers should be paid through the books. It's part of a survey that has been issued as the Association carries out a review of its amateur status and proposals arising from it may be voted on at Special Congress later this year. The Amateur Status Review Committee (ASRC), chaired by Prof David Hassan, was established last year by GAA president Jarlath Burns, who has expressed a preference for putting managers on contracts rather than continuing with the practice of under the table payments, which has been ongoing for many years now and has implications with the Revenue Commissioner. Following a presentation by ASRC to the GAA's Management Committee, it has been decided to seek feedback of the GAA membership on matters such as 'whether they support the establishment of a governance oversight unit to potentially enforce the GAA's amateur status', with the survey form available on 'Members will also be invited to make recommendations on how the amateur status can be protected, and whether they support the introduction of an agreed allowance for senior inter-county team managers or, indeed, whether adherence to a strict expenses model should be enforced,' read a GAA statement. 'Feedback will also be gauged about attitudes towards reducing the number of hours asked of inter-county players every week, the length of time designated for a closed season and whether foreign-based training camps should be permitted.' The consultation process will conclude next month, with the ASRC reporting back to Central Council in the autumn with recommendations, some of which may come before Special Congress on October 4 and others in February's Annual Congress. Burns commented: 'The amateur status is such an important core value of the GAA that it is only right that we carry out a review to ensure that it is fit for purpose in 2025. 'I know of no one in the GAA who feels that our amateur status is something to be abolished – yet within that, we have a situation where the preparation of inter-county teams is costing more than €40m and placing unsustainable burdens on our volunteer led county boards, and the time demands on players are also at an all-time high. 'Establishing the views of our members and players is critically important as part of this review and I urge people to make the most of the opportunity to have their voice heard.' The survey form can be accessed here.
