Club Junior players ought to be treated with greater respect

HAVING ATTENDED club games at all levels over the weekend, I could not but be taken with the disappointment shown by many Junior players at the perceived lack of respect from Wexford G.A.A.

As players on perhaps their club’s second or third team or even a club’s first team, the players wonder what they have to do to gain some respect, particularly down in the lower grades.

On a weekend when the G.A.A. was gloating over attendances in Croke Park, in Wexford the crowds were quite sparse, even at the Senior hurling championship games. For club players there is always a build-up to the weekend, particularly when it comes down to the knockout stages of the championship.

This was the scenario set for the Junior ‘A’ hurlers whose quarter-finals were played off last weekend.

As the players battled it out for a semi-final spot, they were the first to draw attention to the lack of respect shown to their games. Some expressed disappointment at having their games played on club’s second pitches, but the official status was not given to the game even from the top.

I attended the Kilmore versus Oulart-The Ballagh quarter-final in Hollymount. The game was played on the bottom floodlit pitch, as club training took place on the main pitch, while a further quarter-final was also played on a second pitch.

But most disappointing was the fact that the Hollymount fixture took place without official linesmen, while umpires failed to wear their white coats, all of which took away from the importance of the game.

Club players are giving equal commitment as those at inter-county level. In Wexford the championship is played off as a blitz, with no games through nine weeks of summer, leaving players having to play successive weekends in hurling and football, while many are also participating in under-age championships.

The human element is being ignored, obviously enough when you consider that club players rarely figure at the centre of discussion, with even the newly-formed CPA struggling to have a hearing from the top brass.

It seems as if club players will not be facilitated, only to make themselves available to complete championships - it’s all about expediency, it’s no longer about players.

The aim is to force through championships to have representatives available for the provincial club competitions.

Back to the smaller player, as in Wexford they even failed to gain recognition in the weekend match programme. Surely the teams, players and sponsors deserved to have been credited with their placing in the programme for the Junior ‘A’ quarter-finals.

Their voice should also be heard, but then it’s a programme that’s offered for sale with teams bearing no resemblance to that which take the pitch, with line-outs similar to those in place for opening round games in some instances.

This was clearly a snub of the smaller player, the smaller hurling club. Who do Wexford G.A.A. think they are?

Can they continue to show lack of respect to the players, even having their championships run over a few short months? What’s worrying is that Wexford G.A.A. is losing its way. It may be calling a forum or two regarding fixtures, but will these just turn into talking shops as in the past?

Having a year-long season entirely dissected makes no sense. It’s an open invite for players to go to other sports.

Next weekend will see the commencement of the Junior soccer season. It will be interesting to hear many clubs complain of players having turned over to soccer, even with their championship interests still alive.

Many of those who are aware of the situation are already numbed to the inevitable hardships that come with the territory.

Club Junior players need the same respect as all players. But then again, has Wexford G.A.A. the ability to treat everyone with the same respect?

Last weekend we lost our G.A.A. President Paddy Wickham, also a former county Chairman. Only one game was called off as a mark of respect, involving his own club, Davidstown-Courtnacuddy.

What was most disturbing was the playing of club games clashing with his funeral Mass. Surely those games could have been put back to 4.30 and 6 p.m. to allow people attend.

Has Wexford G.A.A. lost its soul and lost its respect?