Tipp GAA respond to Player Welfare concerns

By Shane Brophy

Tipperary GAA have defended their player welfare policy after St Joseph’s CBS Nenagh under 19 hurling manager Donach O’Donnell claimed players were already taking part in gym sessions some six months out from the start of inter-county competitions.

Speaking to Clubber TV following Nenagh’s winning start to their defence of the Dr. Harty Cup against CBS Midleton last Thursday, O’Donnell said up to four players on the Nenagh team had been involved in a gym session the night before the game.

“We had four of our starters travel over to Thurles yesterday (Wednesday) to do a gym session, three months out from championship,” he said.

“It is really unfair on those young fellas. It is not helping our young fellas. It’s not helping the school; it’s definitely not going to help Tipperary long term if they are going to dog kids so it is really important someone does something about it because no one is saying anything and it is not good enough.”

However, Tipperary GAA CEO Murtagh Brennan has said no official gym session took place last Wednesday night as they stringently implement the GAA’s official policy on out of season training.

“I can only speak for my managers and Tipperary County Board policy on player welfare and we are very strict on that,” he said of the November 20th start date when trials and training sessions can officially begin at minor, under 20 and senior level in both hurling and Gaelic football.

“I articulated it in a very strongly worded letter to Croke Park when they brought back the start date last year of under 20 training to November, outlining Tipperary’s position to let the players have the benefit of starting in January like they used to so I don’t know why they made that decision and that is a broader point.

“We work hand in glove with Croke Park on this and they have been very supportive of coming down on this and we are very supportive in terms of implementing this. We are fully behind it.”

This time of the year is particularly busy for young players who play schools level during the week and might have the latter stages of adult club championships and under 21 competitions in the run up to the New Year on gradually softening pitches.

Brennan added that Tipperary GAA are always available to provide advice and guidance for players to ensure they are doing the appropriate level of training.

“The managers and their strength & conditioning coaches understand the importance of injury avoidance and they would be very unhappy if players were burning themselves out,” he said.