Prenty hits out at absence of pre-season competitions in GAA calendar
Diarmuid Murtagh shares the Paddy Francis Dwyer Cup with young supporters after Roscommon won the FBD competition in January 2024. Picture: INPHO/Evan Logan
Connacht GAA Secretary, John Prenty, has hit out at the absence of pre-season competitions from this year’s GAA calendar, saying it has been an opportunity lost to bring everyone “up to speed” with the new rules that will come into effect for this year’s National Football League.
In his annual report, Mr Prenty described concerns about player welfare as inconsistent, adding that “patron welfare” was also an important part of the Association.
“The GPA are not fans of the pre-season competitions and have called for their demise in the past. Unfortunately, they have got their way for 2025 when, in tandem with Ard Chomhairle, they have succeeded in having all pre-season competitions discontinued for one year.
“Their theory is based on the fact that pre-season competitions are having a detrimental effect on player welfare. Maybe when next they conduct a survey with the players they might find out how many times intercounty teams have trained pre the return to train date and particularly how many challenge games have been played in December.
“The irony of the GPA concerns about Player Welfare has been the recent kite they flew around they return of the International Rules. Consistency is futile,” he explained.
Roscommon won last year’s FBD title for the Paddy Francis Dwyer Cup after beating Galway in the final. Mr Prenty said that the appetite to attend pre-season competitions immediately after Christmas, especially in the state-of-the-art Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence Air Dome, was prevalent, describing the competition “as much of a social outlet as a sporting outlet for many of our supporters.”
“With the recent Special Congress decision to approve all of the Football Review Committee motions, surely the pre-season competitions had a valuable role to bring everybody, players, managements, referees and supporters up to speed with the new rules in a less competitive environment. It has been an opportunity lost.
“From a Council point of view there will obviously be a financial hit, which the Council are taking remedies to lessen.
"Of more concern to me has been the disappointment felt by countless patrons who looked forward for somewhere to go in perfect conditions after the Christmas, together with family members and their children not to mention those who watched the streamed games or the final in TG4. Patron welfare is an important part of our Association as well,” he highlighted.
