No current players on new review committee

THERE ARE no players from the current decade amongst the members of the GAA’s new Football Review Committee charged with conducting a root-and-branch review of the state of football.

GAA president Liam O’Neill declared his intention to establish the independent body last month, naming former Offaly All-Ireland-winning manager Eugene McGee as chairman. Eight additional members have now been named, including Tony Scullion, the 1993 All-Ireland winner with Derry, and John Tobin, former Galway player and Roscommon manager.

However some concerns have been expressed at the absence on the committee of any current – or even recently-retired – player.

The committee’s task, according to O’Neill, will be to identify issues in the playing of the game, how it has evolved, and present conclusions, which will form the basis of a national debate.

“I’m not going to influence any of the deliberations,” said O’Neill, when outlining his plans for the committee. “I see my role as a facilitator rather than a driver of this issue, and I would like as many people as possible to be part of a debate on where we’re going.

“Football belongs to everyone, not just to those at elite levels, and the committee membership will reflect that. Can we have an open debate on this and accept different views? I’d hope that there’ll be conclusions by the end of 2012, and that they’ll set the parameters of a wider debate.”

Killian Burns, who won an All-Ireland with Kerry in 1997 and 2000, is also included, as is former Tyrone players Ciarán McBride – and yet the lack of any present footballer has surprised some.

“So nobody on the new GAA review committee that has played game in the last 10 years! Marvellous!” said Monaghan footballer Dick Clerkin, via Twitter.

McGee’s position as chairman was announced at the Central Council meeting last Saturday week. He was a member of the Football Development Committee whose controversial report, while rejected by annual congress in 2000, paved the way for the introduction of the qualifier series format in the 2001 football championship.

O’Neill clarified his recent comment that football was “boring”, maintaining any debate on the future of football should be as wide as possible: “I haven’t expressed any views recently that I haven’t put forward previously. This isn’t about criticising the game, it’s about the association looking at it and working out what areas, if any, might need help.”

But at yesterday’s launch of the Connacht championship, Mayo manager James Horan said football was in a “healthy” place, and for the GAA president to comment otherwise was “crazy”.

“There is a romantic view of how games were years ago but if you look at the fitness levels and particularly the skill levels compared to what it was years ago I challenge you they are better now.

“I think football is in a healthy place. It is an evolving game, it is changing all the time and there’s a lot more science into it. There are a lot more televised games which could be a factor as well so there are a lot of variables to be taken into account,” said Horan.

Also announced yesterday were further details of the GAA’s inaugural “Open Nights”, set to take place across the country this evening as part of the new promotional plan accompanying the 2012 championship. “This is just one initiative that we are organising which we hope will remind people that our championship competitions have started,” said O’Neill.

In Mayo tours have been organised around the redeveloped McHale Park while Armagh and Tipperary are both hosting “Beat the Goalkeeper” competitions for young fans. In Dublin the players will judge crossbar challenges and in Kildare and Carlow players will oversee training and coaching drills. Full details of specific events on county board websites.

2012 GAA FOOTBALL REVIEW COMMITTEE

Eugene McGee – Chairman, Longford (All-Ireland winning manager with Offaly, also managed UCD and Ireland.).

Killian Burns – All-Ireland winner with Kerry, 1997 and 2000.

Declan Darcy – Former Leitrim captain and former Dublin player.

Paul Earle, – Former Roscommon player, club management in Kildare.

Kevin Griffin – From Mayo, member St Jude’s club, Dublin.

Tim Healy – Former captain Coláiste Chríost Rí, Cork. Former Wicklow player and Wicklow U-21 manager.

Ciarán McBride – Former Tyrone player, Head of Sport at Omagh CBS.

Tony Scullion – (Derry All-Ireland winner 1993. Ireland International Rules player 1990, Ulster Council coach.)

John Tobin – Former Galway player, former Roscommon manager, Connacht Games Development manager.