Club and Inter-County debate resurfaces

Two interesting statements were released last Saturday in what is likely be the next big issues the GAA will have to deal with in the coming years.

Firstly at 2.07pm, the Watty Graham’s club, Glen in Derry issued a statement on X, highlighting its “concerns regarding the potential long-term impact of the proposed extension to the inter-county season.”

It is in the ether that the GAA are proposing to extend the inter-county season by two weeks come 2027 with the All-Ireland Football final culminating the inter-county season on the second Sunday in August rather than the last Sunday in July which would be the new date for the All-Ireland Hurling final.

More of Watty Graham’s concerns anon, but the timing of this statement could have been by accident but it is hard not to feel it was coordinated as earlier in the day at GAA Central Council voted to confirm an agreement between the GAA and GPA on a new Recognition Protocol to cover the next four years (2026 to 2029).

“The new protocol will deliver enhanced support for inter-county players and help ensure the GPA’s continued capacity to invest in education, scholarships, health and wellbeing and player development initiatives as well as supporting commercial recognition of inter-county players,” said the GAA/GPA confirmation statement published at 3.22pm.

The key aspect of the new protocol is the financial benefits to the GPA with 15% of gross Central Council commercial revenue to the GPA as well as a restructuring of the Le Chéile Model (the GAA/GPA joint commercial venture). The GPA will receive 95% of profit after tax (up to €800,000) and 75% of profit after tax above that threshold of Le Chéile funds which is recognised as player generated revenue, including the development of a Championship Ball property for Senior Inter-County Championships in both football and hurling.

A key aspect of the agreement is the historic partnership in relation to the establishment of Name, Image, Likeness and Personality (NILP) rights and delivered via Le Chéile. The GAA formally recognises that inter-county players own their Name, Image, Likeness and Personality rights.

It was further agreed the GPA will now receive 15% of the GAA+ platform’s license fees and 15% of dividends annually. It is intended that GAA+ will serve as a vehicle for NILP-related activity with the GPA having editorial board representation. All players will receive free access to GAA+.

The move to a gross figure ensures an increase in annual revenue for the GPA with the additional revenue going towards a new joint GAA/GPA student bursary fund of €300,000 annually (additional to existing GPA bursary awards) which will specifically target those students who are not receiving any other forms of college financial aid related to their educational support.

The GAA will also fund on a vouched basis, €40,000 per annum towards cardiac screening and/or dental protection for inter-county players. This is an increase from the existing €20,000 reflecting inflation and the increased GPA membership over that period.

While all that is welcome and due for the players for the time and commitment put in and the entertainment they provide, everything related this might not appear related to the Watty Graham’s concern but they fear it will only widen the disconnect between the club and inter-county game, and with the GPA now receiving increased funding, the fear is there that it is another step towards a semi-professional game. If that is the case, it would jeopardise the ability of players lining out with their clubs as injury could put their ability to play inter-county, and with it the accrued financial benefits through NILP.

In their letter, Watty Graham’s GAA said the proposed extension to the inter-county season could be a trojan horse for it to be extended even further with the clubs losing out.

“By extending the inter-county season, we feel the GAA is sleepwalking into a situation where county players won’t meaningfully line out for their clubs at all. And once that happens it is our concern that the era of the semi-pro county footballer and hurler won’t just be creeping in, it will have officially arrived. Whilst we presume it is not the intention of the proposal, it is our view that a club/county full split will be an inevitable consequence,” Watty Graham’s GAA said.

They highlighted the fact that the window playing county championships is between 12-14 weeks for most counties, not including the provincial and All-Ireland club championships whereas the inter-county season could be as long as 28 week from the start of the pre-season leagues to the All-Ireland Finals, currently in July.

They feel the extension by two weeks could increase in a year in which an All-Ireland Final goes to a replay and feelgood factor from which will lead to a demand for the season to be extended again.

Interesting times ahead and one Templederry native Ger Ryan hopefully will be tasked with should be become GAA President.