The GAA, once known for its pride and passion has become a dictatorship where player’s welfare is abused in order to generate more revenue for the back pockets of the people on the hierarchy scale of the GAA. This year’s controversial topic of the super 8's has led to a clear disconnection between the players and the congress. The question to be answered is why was the super 8's really brought in? Increased competition or increased revenue?
For those not familiar with the super 8's, it involves restructuring the All-Ireland senior football championship for the year 2018. The new format for now is only temporary and is being used as an experiment for the next 3 years. The super 8's will involve eight teams divided into two groups of four for the quarter final stage. Group 1 will consist of the Munster provincial winner, Connacht provincial winner and Ulster and Leinster runner up’s. Group 2 will involve the Ulster provincial winner, Leinster provincial winner and the Munster and Connacht runner up’s. The teams will play three games each before the top two in each group progress to the All-Ireland semi-final. Following this, the biggest event in the GAA will be the All-Ireland Football Final.
Player’s opinions counted for nothing!
GPA chief executive, Dermot Earley spoke about the effort that went into finding out the opinions of each county panel to then turn around and go against what the players want. A number of GAA players both club and county took to social media to express their thoughts on the congress passing the motion. Donegal’s Eamon Mc Gee tweeted ‘The level of disrespect shown to both club and county GAA players today is staggering.’ The back bone of the GAA is the players themselves and without them there would be no Gaelic Athletics Association, yet their opinion on how the championship should be structured is irrelevant. Is it time to strike and fight for equality and their rights after being disrespected by the congress? Are players really going to play for this new championship format even though majority of them opposed to it?
-"Any interest in a #Super8 competition lads?"
— Alan Cronin (@AlanCroninjnr) February 25, 2017
-"Ah no, wouldn't be great for the game to be honest"
-"Great. It starts next year"
HUNGRY FOR MONEY!
Players club & county don't agree but who gives a fuck about them. It generates more □ & who cares about developing weaker counties.
— Podge Collins (@PodgeCollins) February 25, 2017
‘Burn out?.. Actually let’s not take that into consideration’ – GAA
Why only the super 8? Why not make it the super 32?
The super 8 motion is disgusting!!Players in weaker countries to walk away from the game!! Shame on those on top table #Congress2017
— John McGrath (@john_mc_grath) February 25, 2017
The super 8's can make championship very predictable which in return will discourage and drive away the weaker counties that feel they’ve no chance of development. For example, first round of the Leinster football championship Offaly are up against Wicklow. The winner of that plays the Dubs..Do I need to say anymore? For Munster, Clare takes on Limerick with the winner of that up against the Kingdom. Do these counties have a chance of being one of those Super 8's or are we looking at another Dublin and Mayo All-Ireland Football Final?
It is important that we must not forget what the Gaelic Athletic Association is all about. The GAA should serve the players themselves. Super 8's yeah! Why won’t somebody just think of the players?
Author - Róisín Hurley
4th Year Recreation and Sport Management Student