Glen concerned a proposal may see the GAA sleepwalk towards a semi-pro era

By Michael McMullan

DERRY club Glen feel a proposal to extend the inter-county season will lead to the GAA “sleepwalking” into the scenario of county players no longer “meaningfully” playing for their clubs.

The detailed and thought-provoking letter was posted on their social media and also sent to all county boards to share with their clubs.

The 2024 All-Ireland champions also feel the proposal will lead an era of the “semi-pro” player.

Their concerns are in relation to a GAA proposal to extend the 2027 county season by two weeks, adding an extra week after the National Leagues and between the All-Ireland hurling and football finals.

The proposal to next year’s Congress seeks to move the All-Ireland finals to either side of the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Glen are concerned a “full” split between club and county will be an “inevitable consequence” of the proposal.

They are calling on all clubs and counties to make their feelings known and “put a stop” to the proposal.

In the letter, available in full below, Glen have looked at any counter arguments as well as listed steps Gaels and supporters can take if they agree that shortening of the club season is a concern.

CLG Watty Graham wishes to highlight its concerns regarding the potential long-term impact of the proposed extension to the intercounty season. In the spirit of constructive engagement, we have shared the following letter with all county boards and respectfully requested that it… pic.twitter.com/4BGCIOZa8x

— CLG Watty Graham, Gleann (@WattyGrahamsGAA) November 29, 2025

It comes days after former Tipperary County Board chairman Joe Kennedy, in an interview with the Irish Examiner, has expressed opposition to the proposed two-week extension to the inter-county season.

Kennedy insists that the calendar tweak will spell the end of divisional championships in Premier County.

“I’d fear then for football in the county,” Kennedy added. “Some clubs are predominantly hurling even though they do play football as well, but if football is seen as a threat to their performances in hurling when the calendar squeeze comes on, they’ll stop fielding teams.”

Also speaking to the Irish Examiner, Galway Chairman Paul Bellew, indicated the county will “vigorously oppose” the proposed extension.

“I’d have been talking to Paul Bellew about this,” Kennedy added. “I’d be in full agreement with him. We have spent 10 years in Tipperary trying to get our championships right, we have them right now.

“I don’t think club players should be made to wait eight months of the year to play three matches in a tight sequence, and that could be their year.”

Cork Chairman Pat Horgan, also speaking to the Irish Examiner, said the Rebel County will ‘reluctantly’ support the proposal but don’t want any further extension that would see the county season extending any further into August.

“Reluctantly, I’d say we will support it on the basis that it is just about doable, but certainly, two weeks and no further. That will be our position,” Horgan said.

Glen’s letter in full

“The upcoming Annual Congress motion to lengthen the inter-county season to mid-August from 2027 onwards, and push the All-Ireland finals deeper into the summer, might look harmless on paper, but CLG Watty Graham feels that it is a major step towards sidelining club players.

“The Congress motion, if passed, would see the All-Ireland hurling final move back by one week and football by two.

“By extending the intercounty season, we feel the GAA is sleepwalking into a situation where county players won’t meaningfully line out for their clubs at all. And once that happens, it is our concern that the era of the semi-pro county footballer and hurler won’t just be creeping in, it will have officially arrived.

“Whilst we presume it is not the intention of the proposal, it is our view that a club/county full split will be an inevitable consequence. We believe this proposal should not happen and are calling on all clubs, in all counties, to make their feelings known and put a stop to it

“We have a 12-14 week window of the season dedicated solely to the club in each county, where county players are available to their clubs. The inter-county season is circa 28 weeks long (depending on how your county progresses). But the notion that it is a true split season is already folly, and this two-week proposed erosion of the club window undermines clubs and risks fundamentally harming the structure of the GAA.

“It is our view that reducing the part of the season dedicated to the club will cause damage to the fabric, health and sustainability of Gaelic games across the country. We are asking club people to make their voices heard before any change is made.

“This discussion is not hypothetical. As we understand, the proposal going to congress in February will mean that in 2027 there will be a two-week break between the end of the National Football League and the start of the provincial football championships (instead of the current one week). This automatically delays the return of all inter-county players in all counties by one week. Then, later in the season there will be two weeks between the All-Ireland hurling and football finals (instead of the current one week).”

In their letter, Glen also raise the concern of a potential return to September All-Ireland finals.

“When considered in isolation to the inter-county scene only, the logic behind the two-week proposed change is entirely sound,” the letter continues.

“It will provide time between a National League final and provincial championships which will help promote the value of the league. It will also allow space between the hurling and football finals. It will feel like a success.

“Inevitably, at some point a draw will occur in the All-Ireland football final. A replay will be close to, if not in September. There will be an exceptional build-up. It will feel like a success. Then the same isolationist logic will give way to the demand for the inter-county finals to be in September again.

“When this happens, as an association, we may forget about the notion that county players will play for their clubs. It will be over. For the top counties, the era of the semi-pro player will begin, and this will eventually trickle down to the rest like every innovation always has done.”

Glen have also looked at three counter arguments, listed below.

1) “Most clubs in most counties will only be impacted by one week. Correct, but if you have even one county player, or one hopefully coming soon through your underage ranks, then one week less in a 12-14 week window is huge.”

2) “Counties can move their dates if they exit the inter-county season earlier or later than expected. Those days are gone. Society has moved on, and people make their plans (holiday, wedding, work) with an expectation of some certainty. And that includes not just players, but club officials, volunteers, supporters and referees. Just ask the fixture planner in your own county’s CCC how difficult scheduling is and then try and a move a whole competition forward or back.”

3)- “Professional era is not going to happen. Granted it is the secondary issue. The primary issue will be county players not playing for their clubs.  We predict the natural effect of having county only players will bring forth professionalism.”

They’ve also listed the options for anyone who agrees a shortened the proposal is “harmful”.

“It is very simple; if you agree a shortened club season would be harmful, it is up to you to take one or more of the following constructive steps:

– “Contact your county board. Ask whether your county board delegates have been instructed and how they will vote.”

– “Lobby directly your county delegates/Central Council members if you know any.”

– “A direct appeal to club delegates going to their County AGMs. It is primarily your responsibility to act in the best interests of your club. You have the strongest voice here. Bring it up at your AGMs and the pre-congress meeting.”

In conclusion, Glen feel the GAA belongs to its’ clubs.

“Calendar tinkering that sacrifices club time for inter-county convenience risks severing the link between parish and pitch that has built our games for generations,” the letter continued.

“If you think your club won’t be affected, you are wrong. The slow decay is already underway. We are already seeing underage county development squads run as long, if not longer, than senior inter-county seasons.

“If your club coaches are developing players only to lose them at 15 to a development squad/minor team and then not get them back until they retire at senior inter-county level, then at some point your club’s youth coaches will stop giving up their time.

“There will be a notable lobby who will push for this proposed change. They’ll gloss over ours and your concerns. It’s up to all of us to counter this and not let their narrative become the dominant one.

“Change can be healthy, but it must not come at the cost of clubs, volunteers, young players and the communities they serve. We urge delegates at county and national level to protect the club season and to seek solutions that strengthen, not dilute the club game.”