CPA outline fixture proposals

The Club Players Association has urged the GAA to ringfence the month of April for the club game and ensure club competitions are completed in a calendar year.

The GAA have floated a change to the hurling calendar, which would allow space in the calendar for club hurling to take centre stage between the end of the league and the start of the championship, and also free up weekends in August.

But the CPA are not keen on that proposal, as they fear counties will use April and May for their pre-Championship preparations rather than allow the club game to take precedence.

The CPA will propose at September's Special Congress motions for a group format and a two-tier championship, with April protected for the club game and December blocked off as a rest month.

"The GAA is making incremental change, we had the Super 8, now hurling proposals," CPA chairman Micheal Briody said.

"Let us together as an association take the opportunity presented by this Special Congress, of incidentally which there was no mention until recently, to provide real direction on fixtures and participation to club players and county officials alike.

"The system is causing antagonism and unnecessary stress with the association. It's time to make the bold and decisive changes that are needed."

Crossmaglen and former Armagh player Aaron Kernan says extending the club season until March of the following year has a knock-on effect for players keen to combine club and inter-county careers.

"What people maybe don't realise is that I wanted to play and achieve success with both my club Crossmaglen and my county," Kernan said.

"The GAA through its own competition structures and poorly designed calendar actually discriminates against the successful club player and undermines county teams. 

"The lads at Cross wanted to play for both teams but it wasn't possible because we happened to experience success."

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Photo Inpho/ Morgan Treacy

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