GAELIC GAMES:DUBLIN CEO John Costello has called for the provincial system to be abolished and replaced with a more symmetrical four conferences. In his annual report to next Monday's county convention, Costello makes the proposal.

“As the championship currently exists, some counties face long gaps between games and there is a total imbalance between the potential number of games various counties would play if they went on a winning streak from opening round to All-Ireland Sunday.

“I would argue it is time to set up four conferences with eight counties in each conference. It would be organised along geographical lines and has the potential to give birth to new county rivalries, which, heretofore, were very limited because of provincial divides. As ever, we must improve the marketing of our games and reward our die-hard supporters for their loyalty, as well as targeting new audiences.”

The report reiterates the main points of the county’s strategic plan, Unleashing The Blue Wave, launched last month, which included a proposal that Dublin be treated as a fifth province.

Speaking to The Irish Times yesterday, Costello clarified the suggestion. “It was based on the need to revisit structures and funding streams because of the demographic challenges facing the county because of migration to the city. We’re not looking for a back-door entry to the All-Ireland quarter-finals.”

When the new county executive takes office next week, it will appoint an implementation committee to take charge of realising the ambitions in the document. A special convention will be held in February to formulate a response to the strategy, including the drafting of motions for annual congress where necessary, as in the case of the “fifth province” idea.

In the annual report he defends another of the more ambitious targets – winning All-Irelands every three years in football and every five years in hurling. “The targets for our county teams . . . were, ironically, set long before the season commenced. However, aiming to be as successful as Kerry in football and Kilkenny in hurling cannot be considered unrealistic for a county of our scale. To have a hope of emulating the elite of hurling and football on an ongoing basis, we must continue to provide a realistic pathway for the stars of tomorrow.”

Costello said yesterday the most successful season in years for the county on the playing fields – the All-Ireland football championship, the NHL Division One title, four elite provincial titles and subsequent appearances in All-Ireland finals (senior football, minor football and hurling and under-21 hurling) – hadn’t come cheaply.

“The figures haven’t been finalised yet, but you’re talking in the region of €1.7 million.”

In his report, the CEO is critical at the lack of recognition for the senior footballers’ All-Ireland winning defence. “However, it is perhaps more than a little unusual that a team which Dublin had beaten on their way to All-Ireland glory (and) that had come in for such criticism by the media (who pick All Stars) and who operated a less successful and far more crude defensive system than Dublin’s, was rewarded with more defenders in the All Stars team.”

Finally, he clarified yesterday that comments in his address about compelling players from other counties, who play for clubs in the city, to declare for Dublin were intended to raise the issue of club transfers rather than make a land grab for other counties.

The report reads: “A number of clubs have confidentially voiced their concerns over some (of these) transfers to the county board. Maybe it’s time Dublin introduced their own bye-law that obligated any player who plays club football or hurling in the capital to declare for Dublin?

“It would be very interesting to see what the implications of such a law would be on the volume of ‘transfer traffic’ to our clubs.”

Meanwhile, in his report to Tipperary’s annual convention, secretary Tim Floyd voiced concern over crowds at intercounty matches. “Attendance at our games is now becoming a major concern at all levels, for, apart from commercial income, gate receipts determine our ability to spend. When our Allianz League gates drop it decreases our share of the financial pool.

“When Munster championship gates drop it affects the allocation of grants to clubs. Likewise, we have to curtail board expenditure based on our falling club gates over the past two years. Not too long ago a Tipp v Cork Munster championship would fill Semple Stadium and Tipp v Clare would fill the Gaelic Grounds. In both cases this year the stadiums were just over half-full and even the Tipp v Waterford Munster final was way below expectations.”

Tipp have applied to the Munster Council for their 2012 senior football clash against Kerry to be moved back a week and have it played as part of a double-header with the hurling encounter between Tipperary and Limerick on May 27th at Semple Stadium.

ANNUAL REPORT: John Costello, Dublin CEO

Proposes replacing four provincial championships with four conferences of eight counties each.

Questions future of International Rules, saying that the AFL must market the series more effectively. "Otherwise, instead of debating the future of international rules, we'll be discussing its demise."
Reiterates the basis of the Dublin Strategic Plan.

Flies a kite suggesting that players moving to Dublin clubs from outside be asked to declare for the county.

Supports the trial of Hawk-Eye technology and calls for its extension to grounds other than Croke Park.

Calls for "give and take" between needs of county panels and those of club fixtures.