Time that we cut to the chase
AUSTIN GLEESON believes the race to chase down four-in-a-row All-ireland champions Limerick has made intercounty hurling more time consuming.
The Mount Sion says that while it’s “a privilege” to represent his county the demands are huge and it’s time to at least have a debate about semiprofessionalism.
Gleeson believes the GAA should look at “different incentives” to keep players playing, but accepts change is not around the corner,.
The 28-year-old said:
“If you look around the country, are you going to make every inter-county team semi-professional?
“Are you looking at maybe only the top dogs in both codes?
“So there are a lot of things that you have to look at there. It’d be a lot of funding needed as well. I do think it is a discussion that would need to be had.
“I can’t see it happening over the next six or seven years, definitely not, but if it happens in 15 years it’s another stepping stone.
“Because the game is only going to develop more professionally over the next couple of years.
“You can see how much it’s changing already with everything – video analysis, stats, all that kind of stuff.
“It’s so professional that it probably takes away a small bit from the fun out of it in a way.
“Even over the last 10 years since I started you can see noticeable changes.
“It’s gone very intense and that’s probably the way it has to go with the way Limerick are after changing the game and the landscape with the way they’re playing.
“It’s about trying to catch up with them – that is the reason it’s gone so time-consuming.”