McCague elected GAA President
by Dan O'Neill
I was pleased to hear the news of the election of Seán McCague as
president-elect of the GAA at the weekend.
The former Monaghan boss proved to be a popular choice with the
delegates at Congress, winning over half the first preference votes.
The expected challenge to McCague, from Longford's Albert Fallon, did
not materialise in the end.
Though it was pointed out that the president-elect could not go into
detail about his aims for his first term as president until he
assumes office at next year's Congress, McCague's views are well
documented. Of all the presidential candidates, he has been the most
in touch with grassroots feeling in the North regarding Rule 21.
In a statement last week, McCague reaffirmed his commitment to the
ban on RUC and British Army personnel playing GAA: ``The message from
our members, within the RUC areas, is that they don't find them (RUC)
acceptable at this stage. The opportune time could arise if the RUC
is disbanded in the wake of the Patten Commission Report.''
This is the only sensible approach to this whole debate.
At a time when there is grassroots concern that the GAA hierarchy is
becoming obsessed with corporatism and developing Croke Park,
McCague in his acceptance speech preferred to speak of the
frustrations and problems faced by players up and down the country.
He spoke of the social concerns in Ireland today rather than debating
the virtues of the size of advertising logos on team jerseys, which
many delegates chose to do at Congress. This will strike a timely
note with ordinary GAA members.
His track record on the issue of discipline, the GAA's most serious
problem, is also hugely impressive, as he proved when chairperson of
the Games Administration Committee in the early 1990s.
In his earlier address to Congress, President Joe McDonagh
highlighted indiscipline: ``I want this message to go out loud and
clear'', he said. ``The time has come, aspirational rhetoric is over.
It is time to call a halt. Let us deal with the substance and core of
this problem as our rules and disciplinary procedures allow us to.''
Delegates may have made an inspired choice at Congress in electing
McCague to deal with this problem.
I do believe, however that changes in disciplinary procedures
approved at the Congress, ie. the switching of power from the
provinces to a central authority or the plan to submit referee's
reports earlier will solve the `core' of the disciplinary problems in
GAA. There is no doubt that better officiating at games is necessary.
As McDonagh pointed out in his address, last year was not a good one
for refereeing.
``Too often last year, inadequate reports to disciplinary committees
and a laxity in application of rules led to understandable
grievances,'' he said.
He called for a greater application of the rules this year but better
training of referees is also clearly needed, as many of the current
crop are ill-equipped to make proper decisions when there is foul
play on the field.
The GAA has also cleared the way for a change in the structure of the
provincial football championships but stopped short of allowing the
back door system to be used. From next year the four Provincial
Councils can organise their football championships on a `round-robin'
league basis. An attempt to give Central Council power to decide the
structure of the All-Ireland football championship failed when it
became apparent that delegates feared the back-door system, similar
to the one used in hurling, might be used.
The decline of the League system
Calls to change the present football championship have been growing
amid urgings to scrap the National Football League, which has hit an
all-time low after the criticism of some teams performances at the
quarter-final stages a fortnight ago.
The pathetic displays of Kildare and Derry and the decision of Sligo
not to risk their under-21 players were body blows for the league.
Derry and Kildare didn't actually throw away the League
quarter-finals, but they most certainly weren't devastated by losing
the games.
``I've never been a great believer in the league. For me the only
setback is when you're beaten in the championship,'' said Kildare boss
Mick O'Dwyer after the game.
There were no signs of distress in the Derry camp either.
Next September, it will be easier to decide whether the policies of
Kildare and Derry are the right ones, but there is no doubt the
National Football League does not get the respect of all players or
management and change is needed. Changing the championship to a
league format may offer a solution.
I hope Sunday's semi-final games will be more competitive than the
quarter-final ties. I fancy Dublin to defeat Armagh. The Dublin
defence was impressive in the win over Kildare and with Armagh likely
to be without influential forwards Diarmuid Marsden and Cathal
O'Rourke, the Dubs should contain the Orchard county.
In the other game I'll go for Cork to deprive us of a Dublin-Meath
final. Cork's running off the ball and accurate kicking had Derry in
big trouble early on and would have done so against any team in the
country. If they can repeat this impressive performance against a
Meath side still without Tommy Dowd and Trevor Giles, they should
make the League Final.
The National Hurling League has also reached the semi-final stage
after last weekend's action.
Nicky English's Tipperary set up a mouth-watering tie with Clare with
a 1-14 to 0-14 win over Waterford. The other semi-final will be
contested by Galway and Kilkenny. Galway maintained their 100% record
in Division 1A with a five-point victory over Limerick at Athenry.
Elsewhere, Cork defeated Wexford 1-18 to 1-14. The Leesiders victory
was in vain, however, due to Tipp's win in Thurles.
Down completed their NHL fixtures with another defeat, this time at
the hands of Laois.
A classic strike from veteran forward P.J. O'Connell denied Dublin
victory against Clare. The game ended up as a draw. but this suited
both sides. Clare progressed to the semi-final stages and Dublin
avoided relegation, even though they face Kerry in a postponed
fixture next week.
The hurling league has not been exempt from criticism either. Offaly
only played two of their All-Ireland team against Kerry on Sunday,
and Clare fielded a scratch line-up against Dublin. In the lower
leagues, Donegal failed to field against Armagh and Longford did a
similar trick a couple of weeks ago. In actual fact, there has only
been a handful of genuine competitive games this year in the league.
With all these problems, Sean McCague faces a difficult presidency,
but I believe he is the best man for the job.
Celtic edge closer
On a happy soccer note, Celtic closed the gap at the top of the
Scottish Premier League to four points with a win over Motherwell on
Saturday. Rangers' slip up on Sunday, when they could only manage a
draw at Dundee, will put them under serious pressure. A mere two
months ago Rangers were some 13 points clear!
The 2 May Old Firm game at Parkhead takes on added significance after
the weekend results. Hopefully, the Bhoys can repeat their November
victory over Rangers at Parkhead. Henrik Larsson's amazing season
soared to new heights as he was voted Player of the Year by his
fellow professionals this week. There was always only going to be one
winner. With Larsson signing a new four-year extension to his
contract at Celtic last week, the future of the club looks bright!
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