THE LENGTH OF the GAA club season has been branded as ‘ridiculous’ and ‘nonsense’ by Limerick senior hurler David Breen.
The 28 year-old was yesterday honoured with the Munster club hurler of the year award for 2013 for his exploits with the Na Piarsaigh team who won the provincial title last November before losing to Portumna in their recent All-Ireland semi-final.
After enduring a nine-week wait for the game, Breen believes it is time to finish the club championships in a calendar year rather than sticking with the traditional St Patrick’s Day slot.
“I just think the length of the season is ridiculous, especially when you take county lads who are coming back in November 2012 and then you keep going playing with your county and then your club and you are finishing up in February 2014. It is nonsense.
“It is one thing to say that it is about tradition and Paddy’s Day. It is something fantastic that players dream about but at the end of the day it is constant loading, constant training, constant driving for guys who are away.
“The fact that there is nine weeks between matches does not mean that players take a break for those nine weeks. Managers just keep going and you keep training away.
“I know it is great running out on Paddy’s Day but it is a bloody long wait until then. And the feedback from players is that everyone would like to have it done and dusted in the calendar year.”
Expert View
Breen works as a physio in the Sports Surgery Clinic in Santry in Dublin. He is set to go under the knife soon to correct a knee problem and believes there is a wider problem of GAA players being flogged which impacts on the longevity of their careers.
“A lot of GAA players will suck it up and get on with it. But by the time things come to a head and guys are going in for knee replacements and hip replacements they have hung up the boots a long time ago and no one is listening to them at that stage.
The whole issue is brushed under the carpet. It needs to be regulated. Guys careers are being cut short because guys are flogging themselves, not taking adequate down time.”
All the pressure on Offaly today and they were well deserved winners. Hopefully they will progress to senior level and they’ll compete in the All-Ireland series in 4/5 years time. Congratulations from a KK supporter
@Niall Egan: Fancied Offally to win this. Especially after the heartache of losing a minor and under 20. Some very good hurlers coming through.
@Ray Ridge: Brilliant
What a team…the most likeable team in the gaa at the moment.. thank you Leo..
There won’t be a bunker raked in esker hills tomorrow
Some group of hurlers just shows what can be done when everyone is on the same page, Workrate, teamwork, determination, skill and bottle in abundance they have it all.
Go on The Faithful county
Congrats to Offaly. They completely out hurled Tipp and could have won by much more.
Screeney is a class act and we all know that already. Dan Bourke was my man of the match. Imperious at centre forward. His goal put the game to bed just when Tipp had responded well to the first Offaly goal and looked like the game would go to the wire.
The joke among Tipp fans leaving the ground was at least the traffic won’t be bad leaving with all the Offaly fans celebrating back on the pitch.
It was the best atmosphere at a game in years thanks to the great Offaly support.
Enjoy the celebrations in Birr, Banagher, Tullamore and the rest of Offaly. Third time is a charm as someone else posted and this team are great champions.
Super atmosphere in KK,the place was mega.great game of hurling and Offaly never looked like they were going to come 2nd this evening.commiserations to a very good Tipperary team who had us on the edge of our seats at times alright but congratulations to the Faithful ! Up Offaly
Delighted for Offaly and Leo as well. Great stuff!
A Limerick man over a swashbuckling Offaly side winning an AI, Leo should get the senior job in a few years time with the majority of that side breaking through.
@colmkearney39@hotmail.com: the legend Eamon Cregan was also an adopted Limerick man and wiped the floor with his own county to bring glory to the Offaly senior team.
Better team won, no complaints, hopefully a few players from both set ups make the step up to senior level over the next few years.
What a brilliant atmosphere at the game, despite being on the losing side, just home watching the Saturday game, could have done with more coverage, interviews etc.