All-Ireland hurling captains urge GAA to withdraw 'divisive' league proposal
- Published
Antrim's Eoghan Campbell was one of the signatories on the GPA's statement released on Friday
Captains of counties competing in next year's All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship have called on the GAA to withdraw a proposal that could see five counties removed from the Allianz Hurling League.
The proposal by the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) would see any county with less than five clubs removed from the Allianz Hurling League from 2025 and beyond.
The counties impacted would be Fermanagh, Cavan, Louth, Leitrim and Longford.
If Central Council approves the proposal, those counties would be consigned to the Lory Meagher Cup, hurling's fifth-tier competition.
Earlier this week, Fermanagh GAA expressed "shock and disappointment" over the proposals, adding it would be a "travesty" if the proposal is passed.
In a statement released on Friday and co-signed by the captains of Antrim, Wexford, Kilkenny, Cork, Tipperary, Dublin, Galway, Clare, Carlow, Waterford and four-in-a-row All-Ireland champions Limerick, the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) called on the GAA to withdraw the proposal before it is debated at the GAA's Central Council meeting on 2 December.
"It has become clear that the consultation referred to in the proposal was not conducted with the right people or with the correct information being discussed," read the statement.
"This is clearly the case given that four of the five county boards involved are now publicly on the record calling for the proposal to be rejected. The players and management in Leitrim also want to see it rejected.
"Given that is the case, we believe it is in the best interests of everyone that the proposal be withdrawn. It is clearly divisive and while that may not have been the intention, it does nothing for the development of hurling.
"If the CCCC does not see fit to withdraw the proposal, we call on all County Boards to ensure their Central Council delegates vote it down and help us instead to grow the game we all love."
It added: "What the proposal has sparked is a conversation about the health of the game north of the much talked about Galway to Dublin line.
"We believe an opportunity has now emerged to really tackle the issue. Therefore we, the undersigned, have all committed to engaging with county boards, the provincial councils, the GAA's CCCC and Central Council and anyone else who is interested in the health of hurling, to develop a plan to grow hurling within our counties and in other areas across Ireland where it is struggling.
"We will work with anyone and everyone constructively to secure the future of the game. That is our commitment."
"Signed: Lisbellaw St.Patrick's, Erne Gaels Belleek, Lisnaskea Emmett's, Fermanagh senor hurling panel, Fermanagh manager Joe Baldwin.
"Mullahoran St Joseph's HC, Cootehill Celtic, East Cavan Gaels, Cavan senior hurling panel, Cavan management - Ollie Bellew and Tomas Mannion.
"Carrick Hurling Club, Leitrim Senior Hurling Panel, Leitrim manager Olcan Conway.
"Knockbridge HC, Naomh Moninne HC, St Fechin's, Louth senor hurling panel.
"Longford Slashers HC, Wolfe Tones, Clonguish Gaels, Longford senior hurling panel, Longford manager Adrian Moran.
"Captains of Liam MacCarthy teams in 2023: Eoghan Campbell (Antrim), Lee Chin (Wexford), Eoin Cody (Kilkenny), Sean O'Donoghue (Cork), Noel McGrath (Tipperary), Eoghan O'Donnell (Dublin), Daithi Burke (Galway), Tony Kelly (Clare), Paul Doyle (Carlow), Jamie Barron & Stephen Bennett (Waterford Joint Captains), Declan Hannon (Limerick).
"The National Executive Committee of the Gaelic Players Association."