Newcestown call for fewer league games: We see it as a player-welfare issue

Newcestown will seek support for a reduction in the number of county league fixtures for clubs when the matter is discussed tonight.

The monthly Cork County Board meeting at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh is set to debate submission from clubs regarding the current league set-up.

Currently, there are seven ten-team divisions in each code, with each club playing each other once. Hurling and football alternate each weekend, but there is no break in the schedule, meaning that dual clubs must play for 18 consecutive weeks - Newcestown feel that eight-team divisions would allow for breathing space.

“Clubs were invited for their observations and we sent something in,” says Newcestown football delegate Tom Wilson.

“The guidelines from Croke Park to counties would be to haveten-team, nine-game leagues but Croke Park wouldn’t have been dealing with dual counties.

“It’s a very heavy schedule from the first of March to the end of June, trying to fit in 18 games in 18 weekends and it’s a little bit tough on players.

We see it as a player-welfare issue in that, if they have maybe two games less in each code, they could have the odd weekend off.

“In the championship format, you have six games over eight weeks and that works very well but 18 games in 18 weeks in the league is kind of tough going, especially if you have any reason for having a postponement.”

Wilson is hopeful that dual clubs in a similar boat to Newcestown will back the proposal for fewer games.

“Even the bigger ones, they might have four different teams entered in four different league divisions and they need a lot of players to cover all of those games,” he says.

“We had a postponement this past year. When Cork were in the football league final on Easter Sunday, the CCC asked that games be changed away from that Sunday – we were down to play Castlehaven and a suitable alternative day couldn’t be found and it ended up not being played that weekend.

“When that game was played, it was midweek. We found ourselves having a hurling game on a Sunday, we played Castlehaven on the Wednesday night and then we had another football game the following weekend.

“I think it was 13 players ended up playing in those three league games, which is asking an awful lot of amateurs.

“If you had a break during the league, it would relieve an awful lot of the pressure.”