John Hughes – GAA must decide: Club or County?

Aogan O Farrell and Paraic Duffy at the launch of the proposal for the new Championship structure

The GAA’s decision to restructure the Championship proves that they are unwilling to address the elephant in the room, and that is the clash of club and county.

That’s the suggestion made by John Hughes, who says that the club and county game can no longer survive together.

He argues that there will be a split very soon, but the GAA must decide which code to throw its weight behind.

“The county game is becoming an all-consuming behemoth and the GAA championship proposal only magnifies its appetite. The club game is becoming ever more sophisticated and well-organised.

“The days of togging out on the ditch are long gone. Both formats have much to offer, but they are now cannibalising each other. One cannot thrive without the other taking a back seat.

“The fork in the road is simple. Are we an amateur organisation with the club and club player at the heart or are we a professional or semi-professional sport with the county and the county player at the heart?”