'All clubs want is certainty about the dates games will be played' - Jarlath Burns

The GAA’s process of consultation with the four provincial bodies over the structure of the GAA calendar year and split-season is said to be complete, according to GAA President Jarlath Burns. 

Speaking on Morning Ireland about the prospect of the All-Ireland finals moving back to their September home, Burns reiterated the obstacles the GAA would face should it revert to tradition for next year, admitting that this situation in the past caused upset for clubs around the country. 

“It all comes back to what we view the championship is about and where we link the (inter-county) championship with the club championship,” he explained.  

“If you look at the genuine dual counties, like Cork and like Galway and Tipperary and Dublin, they need at least 14 weeks to run off their club championships. 

“So, if you can find 14 weeks in a year to allow a county to run off its club championship, well then, it’s a possibility. But I don’t honestly know how we can do that. 

“For years and years, the GAA faced criticism that we were not in touch with the grassroots. The clubs were really suffering as a result of the inter-county championships. This is what it looks like whenever you prioritise clubs – or give clubs equal billing. 

“We don’t really have a split season because I know in most counties, like in my own county, Armagh, we’ve played 11 league matches so far. So it’s going on without the county players. 

“Seven years ago, our club players were so up in arms about the way they were being treated that they actually set up a group called the Club Players Association to try and do something about it. 

“All club players want is certainty that the date a game is fixed [for], it will be played. This is what we’ve given them but all these things come with consequences.” 

“Myself and Feargal (McGill, the GAA’s Director of Club, Player, and Games Administration) have been around all four provinces in the past two weeks. We’ve taken the views of all the delegates that were there.

"Some fantastic debates. Feargal has done a report on it. We’re going to go to Ard Comhairle with it now. And the process will start again for looking at how we will do this is maybe a better way.”