WHEN GALWAY TAKE to the field on Saturday night in Castlebar, they will be the last county in action in the 2016 senior football championship.
It’s a tough and torturous wait for them to sample action, given that it will be almost 11 weeks since their previous competitive outing – a Division 2 league tie against Cavan on 3 April.
A few key stats put Galway’s long wait into perspective:
- By the time of throw-in at 7pm in Castlebar, two counties will have seen their season grind to a half. They are the losers of Saturday afternoon’s qualifiers (Armagh v Laois and Louth v Derry).
- By the end of this weekend, two more counties will have exited the 2016 senior race. They are the losers of Carlow and Wicklow on Saturday night, and Leitrim against Waterford on Sunday afternoon.
- Galway get set for their first Connacht championship outing while Roscommon have already played three games in the province this season.
It’s just another one of the quirks of the championship structure which draws complaints.
Paul Flynn’s provincial focus may be on Dublin’s dates in Leinster but as secretary of the GPA, he’s keenly aware of imbalances in the championship scheduling.
“In Connacht and it’s kind of a legacy thing too, there’s always one county who does it each year and it could be Roscommon next year.
“It is a strange situation but it’s probably with the complexity of the fact that London and New York are in there too.
“It doesn’t matter what county or what province it is, it should be a realistic review of the whole thing.
“I wouldn’t mind a six-day turnaround compared to a 10-week run-in to a game, that’s being honest with you. I’ll never complain.
“If you ask all the inter-county players now, the ones I talk to anyway, they love the league. Its game, game, game. I’ve said it before, I love the league.
“You don’t necessarily train too hard, you train enough to make sure you’re sharp for the weekend and you go here or down the country maybe to play a game.
“That’s what it’s all about.”
Is Flynn aware of anyone in favour of the current championship structure?
“It’s gas, good question, I actually haven’t. And I was only chatting with Alan Brogan there the other day, and he wrote an article on his views on it as well.
“When I read it, his argument was, like, when you’re in the inter-county scene and you kind of get consumed by that … you do.
“It would be great to get some kind of structure in place that you are able to do both.”
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
They won’t be happy with that, the same people who insisted on transporting their animals to races in England during the Foot and Mouth crisis……….
@Sean Higgins: racing was cancelled in England during the Foot & Mouth
@Michael Mcloughlin: ssssh some people don’t like facts
@Sean Higgins: Cheltenham was cancelled that year
@Michael Mcloughlin: Aintree and other meetings went ahead during the Foot and Mouth crisis in 2001
@Sean Higgins: Check your facts
Horse racing is cruel and barbaric. Should be banned permanently.
@Chin Feeyin: what would the horses do if there was no racing?
@Chin Feeyin: The horses are taken care of better than yourself
@Chin Feeyin: there’s always one
@Chin Feeyin: you probably ate a horse burger though.
@Chin Feeyin: Clueless.
@Chin Feeyin: are
@Chin Feeyin: Are you confused with greyhound racing
@Chin Feeyin: Completely agree. Animals shouldn’t be used for our entertainment. It’s cruel.
@Daniel Howard: but its not cruel to slaughter animals and eat them?
@Daniel Howard: What about your pet husky in your picture. Should you be allowed have him as your pet for your entertainment? Perhaps you should return your dog to the wild in Siberia
@Chin Feeyin: take a day off
Bout time
Never forget Cheltenham 2020
@Mossy: I surely won’t. Lost me feckin bollox
@Luap: That’s the best news live heard this week
@Mossy: ya it was good alright, Al Boom Photo doing back to back Gold Cups was excellent, shame the Champion Chase fell apart
The only sport in the world that would disintegrate if it wasn’t for betting.
@Davy Evans: what about the world of marble racing
It’s an ill wind but great news.
The bookies are closed so no sense having horseracing
@George Demo: there is online betting
@George Demo: nothing to do with it whatsoever.
It was only happening to prop up the online betting market. It’s not like there were hordes of people watching it on TV. Only limping along to serve the gambling lobby.
Good, about time.
Why are they closing the golf courses
On line betting
About time. Put health for all over money and betting
About feckin’ time!!!
Another disaster day s tipping for ruby walsh oh hold on he s working for paddy power he s doing a good job so .good value for what paddy power pay him to do.
STATEMENT ISSUED AT 5.20pm – TUESDAY 24th MARCH 2020
Following the recent announcements by the UK and Irish Governments in relation to the coronavirus pandemic, the GUI and ILGU recommend that all golf clubs, practice facilities and courses across the island close with immediate effect until April 19th 2020.
While golf is an outdoor sport that allows players to exercise in the fresh air, the message is clear. People must stay at home to help to contain the spread of COVID-19.
The Unions recognise the need clubs may have for business support at this time. We will monitor options available and engage with the relevant sporting bodies in due course to make representations for our member clubs.
We know that these decisions are difficult ones to make, but right now, it is our shared responsibility to prioritise the health of our local communities by working together to follow the respective Government guidelines. In doing so, this will ensure that we get the opportunity to play the game that we all love as soon as it is safe to do so.
For security and essential maintenance purposes, greenkeeping staff can still attend work.
All work must be carried out in strict accordance with government guidelines on physical (social) distancing. Clubs should divide course staff into two teams where possible and if one becomes unavailable, the other team will still be okay to work.
You will appreciate that this is a very fluid situation with new developments almost daily. We will continue to liaise with the appropriate authorities, and will ensure that our clubs are kept informed as to recommended best practice at all times.
@Cowboy Paddy:
What is the point of this? We have building sites open with 1000+ people on site working closely and they thing a few guys (who observe social distancing) outside could spread this.
This is a reaction to the stupid Boris Johnson, do nothing and then go way over the top… UK is a mess and the reason they banned Golf is because they brought down the max meeting to 2. Yes the guys who had a massive party on Saturday to close the pubs.
Why are we listening to these idiots…
@Cowboy Paddy: well you’re clearly not.
@Verandah: it’s Ivan Yeats incognito. Let the wild bollix have his rant.
@Cowboy Paddy: ejit
Golf ??
The bookies are closed so no sense having Horse racing
@George Demo: I wonder have the bookies closed yet?
@Logan Shepherd: last week
When are they closing the bookies?
@Biscuits Patinkin: all bookies shops have been closed since last week so what do you mean?
The bookies are closed so no sense having horseracing
@George Demo: are the bookies closed yet?
@Chin Feeyin: closed since last week!
Imagine there’s no horsies, it’s easy if you try. No horse below us, above up only sky. Continue with own lyrics until you’re on the floor.
Parasites. All subsidies €100M+ a year to this so-called industry should stop forthwith. #cheltenhamshame
Chin eat your husky you mog