CLUB PLAYERS ASSOCIATION IN NEW SURVEY

THE Club Players Association has asked its members about the shape of season they would like to see evolve as the first year of the new inter-county format edges close to conclusion.

The inter-county season will end two weeks earlier, on September 2, with the All-Ireland football final. But as it stands 24 counties are now out of the football championship while only six remain in the hurling championship.

The CPA’s survey is asking its 25,000 members three specific questions, as well as inviting further comment. Those questions are:

• Do you think there is a disconnect between the GAA leadership and club players?

• Would you be in favour of a segmented season, where March-April and August-November would be set aside exclusively for club games? Some club league matches would continue from May-July without county players.

• Would you be in favour of a split season, with the inter-county season taking place from January-July and the club season from April-November. Some club matches would take place from April-July without county players.

A CPA-sponsored motion to Congress in February called for AllIreland quarter-finals to be wrapped up by the second weekend in July, which would facilitate an even earlier end to the championship.

Their executive is now canvassing further opinion as they continue talks with GAA officials to reinforce their view that a “forum with a blank page”, as chairman Micheal Briody put it, is the only way forward.