A STING IN THE TAIL
ROCHE TO ROLL WITH PUNCHES Model boss accepts second tier competition may have to go
WEXFORD football boss Shane Roche could reluctantly accept the Tailteann Cup being scrapped again this year.
With much uncertainty still surrounding the 2021 inter-county season, GAA director general Tom Ryan admitted last weekend that the tier two football competition is in some doubt.
Level 5 restrictions remain in place until April 5 and after that it’s hoped that inter-county training can start, which would pave the way for competitive games in May.
But something will have to give and if the GAA decides against starting the Allianz Leagues that late in the year and running the Championship only, then the Tailteann Cup would be the fall guy once again as its participants are determined by League placings.
Roche said: “At the minute, we’re eager just for April 5 to come around to get back and play. From that, whatever is outlined for the rest of the year, we’ll have to just go with it.
“For the group we have, we’d like to get as many games as possible, but with a condensed season, and them going back to the clubs, that mightn’t be an option.
“I’d obviously love it but we have to be cognisant that it’s going to be very condensed and the club scene needs ample time to run out as well.
“If it was to go, we would just have to respond in a positive way and plan for 2022.”
Last weekend’s GAA Congress, which was held online for the first time, deferred motions on the All-ireland SFC structure in the hope that the matter can be debated more robustly at an in-person
Special Congress later in the year.
One of the alternative structures would effectively see the current League format adopted for the Championship, with provincial leagues taking place earlier in the year instead.
Another proposal is to move counties from
Ulster and Leinster to Connacht and
Munster in order to produce four provincial competitions of eight teams each, though flipping the
League into summer is
Roche’s preference.
“We would be still pushing a League format where we can get games. We have a very young panel so for these guys to be exposed to week-on-week competitive action at high levels is key.
“The League format, the Leinster Championship and then the Tailteann Cup, to be playing competitive games in hopefully warm weather, it is days like that that kids want to see.”