3 days ago
'It doesn't make any sense' - Moran calls for the return of pre-season competitions
New Mayo manager Andy Moran has called for pre-season competitions to return ahead of the 2026 season.
The McKenna Cup, McGrath Cup, FBD League and O'Byrne Cup did not take place last January after a vote at Central Congress.
Speaking at his first press conference this week, Moran stressed he was desperate to see them return this winter.
'Absolutely. From a County Board expense point of view, from everything, in January when you have no games, travel all over the country to get a pitch, all of a sudden you can't get into a pitch because the weather is bad.
'But if there is a FBD game, the game has to go ahead. You are running around chasing challenges anyway. It doesn't make any sense. One of my biggest regrets going up north was that there was no McKenna Cup. I would have loved to experienced it.
'It was just the way it was. We were running around playing Fermanagh, opening pitches, doing everything just to try get games. For me, it is a no brainer. I can't see the logic behind pulling the FBD because boys are playing Sigerson anyway. Maybe you put in a rule that they can't play both or something like that. That's fine.'
The Connacht Council of the GAA reduced ground rent payable to counties for the 2025 senior football championship in the aftermath of the removal of the FBD league.
'But there has to be games because you want to bring new talent through,' said Moran.
'Again I will use Monaghan as an example. We played Cavan in the first round of the league last year. That was a must win for both teams.
'No one could really trial too many players. You could put in one or two, because that is their first exposure to National League. To get young players through, not use the same players all the time, those divisional tournaments are absolutely key.'
