Clubs rail against squad size rule

THE issue of how many players will be allowed to tog out and be part of a match-day squad for Mayo club championship games looks set to dominate the build-up to the start of the competitions next month.
That was certainly the impression given at a recent meeting of the Mayo GAA Board when a lengthy debate on the matter unfolded between some County Board officials and club delegates.
The discussion began with Mayo GAA chiefs reminding clubs of their obligations in relation to only togging out 24 players on championship match days, in accordance with GAA rules.
But a number of club delegates voiced their unhappiness with the prospect, with Padraic Carolan of Parke imploring officials to ‘listen to the clubs’.
“There’s a disconnect between the people making this decision and the clubs, in my opinion,” he said.
The subject was raised initially by Mayo GAA assistant treasurer Michael Diskin when he explained that the County Board would be sending a representative to each club championship match this season.
“They will address any issues that arises with the club chairpersons or secretaries, and will also be the eyes of the County Board to see how compliant clubs are in terms of having 24 players on the sideline,” said Diskin.
“We don’t want clubs nominating 24 players in the programme and then togging out 35.
“That defeats the purpose, that’s when an explosive issue could arise at a ground.
“So where clubs are non-compliant with those regulations, there will be a 50% reduction in clubs’ percentage of the gate. There will be a fine.”
“I get your point, but how many explosive events have you had?” enquired Dermot Flaherty of Mayo Gaels.
“If you’re trying to run two club teams, off a panel of 32 or 33 players, it’s very difficult to tell those extra players that they can’t tog out for the biggest games of the year.
“How many serious incidents has there been? We’re here to promote football and get lads playing, not stop them. ”
“There have been a very small number of incidents, and that’s down to the clubs,” said Michael Diskin. “But we can’t take the chance, we just can’t.”
“We’re dealing with grown adults,” commented Mayo GAA vice-chairman, Con Moynihan.
“Twenty-four players will be picked and it’s up to a club manager how he addresses that.
“We’ve brought in club managers before the championship every year, and we’ve warned them. And to be fair, most of them, 95% of club managers have behaved themselves.
“There were four incidents in the last two years where, at various stages, there could have been an outright riot on the sideline.”
Kevin Maheady of Killala GAA was among a number of delegates who spoke against the County Board’s proposal.
“Number 30 on the squad is doing the same amount of training as everybody else, and for rural clubs it’s not going to work,” he said.
“If you tog 24 lads and put their names in the programme, what incentive is there for the other six or eight lads to go training the following Tuesday?”
“I think you can take any isolated incident like Con [Moynihan] is quoting to make a case for 24,” said Padraic Doherty from Ardagh. “The faster ye rethink that number, the better.”
“When ye bring in the chairmen to go through the rules, there’s no way they’re going to go with that,” said Garrymore delegate, John Farragher.
“The rulebook says 24,” stated Con Moynihan.
“I know, but it’s in here you’re going to have the riot, with the chairmen,” replied Farragher.
“I think ye need to listen to the clubs here. I think the general opinion is that 24 is an issue for the clubs, because at the end of the day numbers 25-30 do all the training and work, and could be involved coaching young lads,” said Padraic Carolan from Parke.
“They’re going to be going playing something the following week. . .
“I think we really do have to think this one through. Listen to the clubs.
“The rule is fine, I can see why ye want to do it. But it’s not connecting with the clubs. “There’s a disconnect between the people making this decision and the clubs, in my opinion.”
Mayo GAA chairman Seamus Tuohy then asked, ‘What is the number?’
“Twenty-four is not the number,” replied Padraic Carolan. “Talk to the team managers and they’ll tell you.”
“When things kick off, it normally kicks off with the manager and a couple of selectors on the sideline. It isn’t the players sitting in the dugout up as far as 35,” said Hollymount/Carramore delegate, Mike Connelly.
“There’s a very quick way of solving that: outside the wire if they’re not behaving themselves. That’s the only way to deal with it, and referees are going to have to become a lot stronger in situations like that.”
“It’s not a match-ban anymore for a manager, it’s four weeks,” said Con Moynihan.
And a repeat infraction is 12 weeks. A month from August 18 to September 18 means that a club manager will miss the entire club championship. Or a player will.
“We’ve listened to what you’ve had to say and we’ll address it in the final document that goes out,” concluded Seamus Tuohy.
Mayo GAA officials are expected to meet with club chairpersons, secretaries and club managers in the coming weeks to discuss all regulations around club championship matches, including this contentious issue.
The first round of the Mayo club championships takes places on the weekend of August 18/19.