IT’S MARCH MADNESS ON FINALS

THE All-ireland club finals will return in 2022 but Brian Whelahan insists that they should be restored to their traditional St Patrick’s Day slot.

The finals were brought forward to January last year before Covid-19 took hold as the GAA looked to condense the competition given that the semi-finals and finals were generally spread over a three-month period once the provincial series ended in December.

However, last season the provincial and All-ireland club Championships were cancelled as Croke Park opted to conclude the club season at the county final stage owing to the pandemic.

This year, the provincials are due to commence on the third weekend of November, with the All-ireland club finals set for the weekend of February 12/13 next year.

But Whelahan, a winner of four All-ireland club hurling medals with Birr, believes that the March 17 slot should have been preserved.

He said: “It gave all club players the opportunity of having Paddy’s Day as the final goal.

“The last final was played between Ballyhale and Borris-ileigh and people were still recovering after the Christmas dinner. It beggars belief.

“And they can turn around and say all they want about wanting to bring everything into the calendar year but I don’t agree with the thinking behind this.

“What was the problem behind it? Players not being available to their counties?

“I just feel that there’s an awful lot of kicks in the teeth that the club scene is after taking and I don’t think it’s for the betterment of the game.”