Call for open draw
Fardy backs Centenary Cup format
FORMER WEXFORD football player and manager Liam Fardy has called for a Centenary Cup-style format for this year’s All-Ireland Senior championship.
‘We are in a crisis in this country at the moment,’ he said. ‘It’s worldwide and people must come first.
‘We must cater for the people and hope everyone comes out safe at the end of this coronavirus pandemic. With this in mind, sport has to be treated differently this year.’
The Centenary Year competition was played in 1984, with an open draw, and the Wexford footballers reached the quarter-final.
They defeated Armagh by 3-3 to 0-6 in the first round in Lurgan, a game played on April 8.
In the second round on April 29, Wexford hosted Westmeath in Wexford Park and recorded a 3-10 to 0-4 victory, while their quarter-final game played in St. Conleth’s Park, Newbridge, on May 6 saw them lose out to Cavan on a 1-9 to 1-7 final scoreline.
Now, 36 years on from that Centenary Cup, Fardy gives an insight into why he played with Waterford - rather than his native Wexford - in their 1-13 to 2-6 defeat to Offaly in Fraher Field, Dungarvan.
‘I won a Waterford Senior football title with Tramore. I was approached to play with Waterford, but I would only consider that if Wexford didn’t need me,’ he said.
‘I rang the then manager, Tony Dempsey. I told him of my plight that Waterford had approached me to play, but my first loyalty would be Wexford should they still need me.
‘Tony told me to go and play with Waterford. I was devastated after all the years I had given to Wexford football. I played with Waterford and marked the great Matt Connor on that day, a truly wonderful player.’
For the Centenary Cup, the 32 counties went into the hat and there was an open draw. Kilkenny even took part, although London and New York weren’t competing at inter-county level then.
The first two rounds were played at home venues, except for the Derry versus Kerry tie in round two, which formed a double-header in Tuam with Galway and Longford.
From the quarter-final stage on, all games were played at neutral venues. The five rounds were completed over five weekends.
The Centenary Cup was also staged in hurling that year, when Wexford were shocked by Roscommon in Athleague - a defeat that led to serious repercussions in the county.
A similar-style open draw competition for both codes, sponsored by Ford, was then held in 1985, but that was the last such competition as there wasn’t enough room on the calendar to make it sustainable.
Given the uncertainty as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Fardy expects a knockout Senior football championship.
The competitions were last played in that format in 1996 in hurling, Wexford’s last All-Ireland success, and 2000 in football, but the Gusserane O’Rahilly’s stalwart feels that a knockout championship could be the only way out this year.
It is looking increasingly likely that the 2020 championship format will have to be re-visited, as the coronavirus-enforced layoff seems set to stretch into the summer months, possibly late July/August.
‘I think it will be maybe July before anything really happens. There is no question about it, people’s welfare must come first, so given the scale of the crisis, this is going to take months,’ Fardy said.
‘This is going to dictate the structure of the championship, and there’s also under-age to think about.
‘Each month is going to have a knock-on effect, so it’s a question of waiting, it’s out of everyone’s hands as to when sport returns,’ he added.
Fardy believes that if a Centenary Cup-style championship was run this year, it could create a model for years to come.
‘The way things are moving at the moment, it’s only a question of time before we will have an open draw competition anyway.
‘Provinces are becoming more predictable each season. They will no longer prove attractive from a supporter’s point of view, while the Centenary Cup created a great atmosphere.
‘Make no mistake about it, the championship will eventually move to an open draw. Thirty-two teams would go into the draw.
‘That would make for great interest, not just for players but also supporters. I can also see the club championship going that way.
‘Wexford have a big football support base. This could be a way of getting them back out. At present, Wexford are playing out of Division 4 but I am really pleased with the impact of Paul Galvin.
‘He has them playing attractive football which is good to watch. He has lifted them into a promotion spot, the players are super fit and really playing for him.’
But Fardy has added a warning with regard to what’s expected from players nowadays.
‘The demands on players are huge. They are amateurs but are being asked to train and live like professionals.
‘If managers and the G.A.A. want them to go this route, they will have to be paid.
‘Where’s their life? They cannot even have a drink after a game. Players are well able to cope with this without abusing it.
‘They are on special diets, gym training for months pre-season, no social life. They are amateurs but asked to train non-stop.
‘Despite the demands, the players are unbelievable in what they contribute, but if that is what the G.A.A. counties and managers want, let’s pay them.
‘Professionals are not subject to the same discipline, while the very same players are also very involved with their clubs. It’s unbelievable what’s asked of them.
‘A knockout inter-county championship would free up more time for clubs. The Centenary Cup model is the way to go I believe,’ Fardy added.