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Club Players Association won't support Duffy's fixture proposals

The CPA have written to Duffy to notify him of three areas that need immediate attention.

THE CLUB PLAYERS Association (CPA) have confirmed they won’t be backing Páraic Duffy’s proposals to revamp the All-Ireland senior football championship.

Aaron Kernan, Declan Brennan and Michael Briody Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Last August, Duffy unveiled his plan to replace the quarter-finals with two groups of four, which would involve the addition of eight extra games into the inter-county football calendar.

Duffy’s proposals will go in front of GAA Congress next month, but the CPA say they are opposed to the suggested format.

“We are calling on Páraic Duffy to park his proposals pending proper consultation,” CPA chairman Micheal Briody said in a statement released on Monday night.

“We have had a very positive response since our official launch. Over 15,000 club players have registered so far. Their expectation is that the GAA will step up to the plate and address the fixtures issue for all players.

“If the current proposals are passed, there will be no realistic possibility to change until the 2019 season at the earliest. By then it could be too late. This needs (to be) sorted now.”

Declan Brennan and Michael Briody CPA secretary Declan Brennan and chairman Michael Briody Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

He continued:  ”We have had several informal discussions with the director-general Páraic Duffy at which we have exchanged views.

“We appreciate greatly Páraic taking time to meet us and recognise the legitimacy of the CPA.”

The CPA have also written to Duffy on behalf of club players, highlighted three key areas they feel require immediate attention:

1. CPA Recognition

We are calling upon and appealing to County Boards to vote to officially recognise the CPA at the forthcoming Congress. We are at the stage as an Association where we need to consider what’s right for all our members, not who’s right. Given the nature of Congress we believe it is important that the motion proposed by Wexford and Tipperary County Boards is heard at Congress and given due consideration without the possibility of procedural interference or impairment. We are writing to County Boards this week inviting their mandated support to achieve the necessary support. The CPA is committed to working with and supporting County Boards. Agreement on fixtures will make their work easier.

2. Fixtures Proposal

The CPA is today announcing that it cannot support the fixtures proposals brought forward by Páraic Duffy. We are therefore calling on Páraic to put his ideas on hold pending further consideration. We respect Páraic’s position over the last 9 years as Director General and his immense experience as a professional GAA official.  However we cannot support the proposals on three main grounds:

  • They do not fully take on board the need for an agreed fixtures programme for club players, or take account of legitimate concerns raised including club player welfare and well being, holidays and closed season.
  • They are detrimental towards hurling, and in their presented form are creating an unwelcome imbalance in the Association, especially at a time when hurling nationally needs renewed focus. Both games must be given parity of esteem. This is non negotiable.
  • The proposals pre date the establishment of the Club Players’ Association. The view expressed to us by club players who are the majority playing population, is that club fixtures need to be fully considered in any proposals going forward.

3. Fixtures Think Tank

To this end we call for the immediate establishment of a Fixtures Think Tank to meet, take on board and consult fixtures experts in the GAA, and if necessary take evidence from other sports. Their remit will be to report back within a fixed timeframe with a programme and principles that create uniformity and help county boards who are unfairly often in the firing line. Their findings will outline the way forward to make our Association fit for purpose and serve the GAA for the next stage of its evolution and the challenges we all face.

We must remember the articles of our Association when first established by Cusack, Davin and the founding fathers:

“Davin spoke first about the plan to start a new organisation for sport. He described how many Irish games were losing popularity and dying out in some cases in the countryside and appealed for a revival.

“‘The Gaelic Athletic Association for the Preservation and Cultivation of National Pastimes’ was chosen as the official name but it soon became known familiarly by the shortened title of the GAA.”

It is time again to preserve and cultivate our games for all our members.

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    Mute Simon
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    Jan 12th 2015, 9:22 PM

    If Croke Park wasn’t sold out just by Irish people , it will be sold out by UK fans , Swedish fans , the scatter of fans in the rest of Europe and the sizeable amount of Americans that would come over because of the main event and the event itself. Irish fans got a very good rep for being an event within an event from last July.

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    Mute The Guru
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    Jan 13th 2015, 12:13 AM

    Croke Park would be great for the UFC/GAA as the bandwagon would be in full flow and they’d rake it in. However in terms of paying €100 to watch two dots from the back of the top tier of the Hogan stand…I think I’d give it a miss. Big TV, bag of cans and a pizza.

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    Mute Eoin Whyte
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    Jan 12th 2015, 9:16 PM

    I’ll be there anyway! hon McGregor!!

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    Mute Figo murphy
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    Jan 13th 2015, 1:59 PM

    Imagine if he were to fight for 6 nights in a row at croker! Would that be allowed?

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    Mute Robbie Curran
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    Jan 12th 2015, 10:54 PM

    Sure they could get Garth Brooks to warm up the crowd, 2 birds with 1 stone and all…..

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    Mute Justin O'Connell
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    Jan 13th 2015, 2:08 AM

    Don’t mention the war!

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    Mute markdunnecork
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    Jan 12th 2015, 10:10 PM

    There is a big green at the end of my park

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    Mute harvey kinkel
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    Jan 12th 2015, 10:54 PM

    Jeez talk about jumping the gun one step at a time he has a fight sunday night first then have this conversation. We are starting to sound like the english . Every fight could be a banana skin. Im sure conor will deliver the goods sunday though.

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    Mute Paddy Lynn
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    Jan 13th 2015, 2:30 AM

    Couldn’t help yourself

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    Mute tractor1000
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    Jan 12th 2015, 11:26 PM

    He’s a bit of a fool!

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    Mute mcgoo
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    Jan 12th 2015, 11:06 PM

    I thought having Garth was cat but this dude is ten times more cringe inducing.

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    Mute Adrian Stanley
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    Jan 13th 2015, 8:22 AM

    Don’t feel obliged to attend so. I’d love to see this at Croker, and would fight tooth and nail to get a ticket!

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    Mute Marv
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    Jan 12th 2015, 9:24 PM

    There is as much a chance of him fighting in croke park as there is in my back garden!

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    Mute Anthony Connery
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    Jan 12th 2015, 9:23 PM

    The isn’t a chance that it will be in Croke park.the main event would have to be at 3am. The gaurds wouldn’t allow it and neither would the residents

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    Mute Neville Neville
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    Jan 12th 2015, 9:31 PM

    When have the residents ever stopped an event from going ahead.

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    Mute Steve and 178 others
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    Jan 12th 2015, 9:36 PM

    What are you on about, no it wouldn’t. Events are obviously ran at local times

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    Mute Simon
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    Jan 12th 2015, 9:44 PM

    The UFC event in Sweden in the next few weeks is 2am Swedish time for the Americans

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    Mute Anthony Connery
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    Jan 12th 2015, 10:08 PM

    Check you info Steve

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    Mute Des Smyth
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    Jan 12th 2015, 10:59 PM

    Not necessarily, if the fight was late night in Dublin 23-00 it will be mid to late afternoon US, would you watch a title shot on a Saturday afternoon with a few ice cold beers and the sun out!

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    Mute Anthony Connery
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    Jan 12th 2015, 11:07 PM

    I would but it has to be prime time hours for the American audience… We’ll have to wait and see… I’m living in oz and the last 3 events that I went to here in Sydney started at 10am in a Saturday to suit america

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    Mute Andrew Dermody
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    Jan 12th 2015, 11:29 PM

    11pm is cut off time for events in croker park

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    Mute Dead Ball Browne
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    Jan 13th 2015, 12:52 AM

    Chickens before their hatched. ..

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    Mute Robert O Farrell
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    Jan 12th 2015, 9:45 PM

    Croke park is too big – it would be lost at that venue., What’s wrong with the Aviva – it would be perfect. Altho crowd control might be a problem. Some ppl get a little carried away ( from what I hear ) at these UFC events and imagine they are MMA fighters themselves..

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    Mute Dara O'Brien
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    Jan 12th 2015, 10:55 PM

    Proof please Robert?

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    Mute Paul Cherubini
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    Jan 13th 2015, 2:23 AM

    Where exactly did you hear that? The Irish fans were actually praised for their great support and behaviour at UFC Dublin. 2 shows 2 sell ours and no trouble. I’ve been to lots of local shows and never seen trouble either, so you’re just talking nonsense

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    Mute Hevin Bear Kiggins
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    Jan 12th 2015, 11:11 PM

    #UFCTOCROKER is the hashtag. Get on twitter

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    Mute That's a paddlin'
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    Jan 13th 2015, 9:53 AM

    A fool and his money is easily parted.

    How much would a ticket cost to see this in Croker? €80 or something stupid like that? Travel half away across the country to watch two ants fight in a tiny octagon from half a mile away for 3 minutes.

    The mind boggles.

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    Mute Andrew Doyle
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    Jan 13th 2015, 8:48 AM

    McGregor is a tool. Hope he gets the sh!te kicked outta him

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    Mute Shane Griffin
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    Jan 13th 2015, 6:12 AM

    a disgusting display of savagery. I think it’s wrong that this McGregor fella is allowed to use our national flag for this carry on, do they call it a sport ? Shouldn’t be granted a license by the state.

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    Mute Jim Butler
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    Jan 13th 2015, 8:12 AM

    What an extremely well informed comment…

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    Mute Gary
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    Jan 13th 2015, 9:39 AM

    “a disgusting display of savagery” he writes, as he goes and puts on his tutu.

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    Mute Martin Kirwan
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    Jan 13th 2015, 8:33 AM

    Tractor boy! He’s the real deal, and he will be UFC champion no question.Thers no bandwagon for you tractor to pull, He backs his big mouth every time!

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    Mute Darren Callaghan
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    Jan 12th 2015, 10:59 PM

    Why would they not consider an indoor at the O2 or is it called that now ? I’ll just stick to the Point depot or the Rds or even citywest conference centre wherever you can fit in the biggest crowd really but indoor it’s a no brainer or is it I don’t know the numbers involved

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    Mute John Collins
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    Jan 12th 2015, 11:11 PM

    They’re all too small.

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    Mute Hevin Bear Kiggins
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    Jan 12th 2015, 11:13 PM

    O2 sold out in 5 mins at minimum cost of 100 a ticket. Have fun finding other venues bigger than 02 that’s not a stadium.

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    Mute Darren Turner
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    Jan 13th 2015, 12:39 AM

    Numbers involved would be 80000 no problem. Croker is really the only option

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    Mute Brian O'Connor
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    Jan 12th 2015, 11:12 PM

    Is the fight on Sunday on Irish TV?

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    Mute Dara O'Brien
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    Jan 12th 2015, 11:17 PM

    No – BT sports live – TV3 will show it but probably on Wednesday

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    Mute John Ó'Ríordán
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    Jan 13th 2015, 10:31 AM

    Technically it is on Sunday morning. But like Dara said it’s on BT Sports, which isn’t Irish but is available in ireland if you have a subscription.

    The fights run from 00:00 to 06:00. He should be out around 04:30 or so depending on how quickly the earlier fights finish.

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    Mute John Ó'Ríordán
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    Jan 13th 2015, 5:21 PM

    My mistake. That fight is actually on in the US on Sunday night. So very early Monday morning in Ireland.

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    Mute Robert O Farrell
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    Jan 12th 2015, 11:23 PM

    I seen it on tinternet so it must be true!! Jokes aside my cousin and some friends have been to a few UFC nights and that’s what they said.,

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    Mute brian magee
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    Jan 13th 2015, 7:14 AM

    Can’t see the appeal of wanting to see it in Croker, it’s a huge pitch so if tr octagon is in the middle and your in the front row , the fighters would still be tiny.

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    Mute Cathal Donnellan
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    Jan 13th 2015, 1:39 AM

    McGregor, andy lee and katie taylor all on the same bill. Dunno how they’d do it but it’d shift a few seats

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    Mute The Guru
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    Jan 13th 2015, 3:58 AM

    Yeah and they should have the Champions League final, Rugby European Cup final and the Grand National all in the same place too. Would shift a few seats.

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    Mute Val 'Doonican'
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    Jan 13th 2015, 9:00 AM

    Have a Andy Lee and Connor McGregor double bill what a nite that would be in croker!!!

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    Mute Ken Power Grouch
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    Jan 13th 2015, 12:06 PM

    This fool McGregor is milking the lime light while it lasts & best . Because in 12 to 18 months time after he gets his head beaten of his shoulders he will go back to been a loud mouthed jackeen with nothing between the ears.

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    Mute Dara O'Brien
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    Jan 13th 2015, 11:51 PM

    Thanks Mystic Meg.

    By the way, will you remember this comment if he wins on Monday and takes the title from Aldo during the year. Just so you can post back up and eat your words?????

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