Vox pop: The club players have their say

Niall Gartland canvasses players across the province for their opinions on how the club scene is run in their respective counties

Ben McKinless (Ballinderry, Derry)

1. What do you think of the league and championship format in your county?

The league format is good now that there’s the chance of getting relegated. It means the games mean a lot to us as opposed to last year where there weren’t any relegations. League games were glorified friendlies. The championship format is silly – it’s two groups of seven so you can be beaten three times and still win championship, that doesn’t make sense to me personally.

2. What possible changes, if any, would you make to the formatting or scheduling of games?

If I could change games I’d put them on Friday nights or Saturdays or at least throw in some mid-week ones as well, it would attract more of crowd.

3. What’s your best memory as a club footballer and why?

My best memory as a club footballer has to be making senior debut for Ballinderry alongside some of my childhood idols like Conleith Gilligan, Enda Muldoon and Kevin McGuckin.

4. What’s your aspiration for the rest of the season?

The aspiration is to push for a semi-final spot at least. You have to be in the top four, otherwise you’re wasting your time in my opinion.

Kevin Kealy (St Eunan’s, Donegal)

1. What do you think of the league and championship format in your county?

Both league and championship formats in football and hurling are working well. There are plenty of games and multiple chances to get far in the competition for all clubs

2. What possible changes, if any, would you make to the formatting or scheduling of games?

Having hurling games on Friday evenings followed by football games on Saturday or Sunday is difficult to manage. The Friday evening hurling also doesn’t suit players working down the country during the week. A change to football only weekends and hurling only weekends as is done in Dublin and other counties would be the dream change.

3. What’s your best memory as a club player and why?

Best memory as a club player is winning the senior championship double in 2021 where we won the finals on consecutive weekends.

4. What’s your aspiration for the rest of the season?

The goal for this year would be to win both codes again and go further in Ulster this time.

Eoin McKearney (Ballybay, Monaghan)

1. What do you think of the league and championship format in your county?

Overall I think the format is quite good. The league always maintains a sense of importance in Monaghan as being able to play in senior championship is dependant on it. The more recent addition of a group stage to the championship gives clubs a chance to host a home game, which is a great and enjoyable day for a club and their players.

2. What possible changes, if any, would you make to the formatting or scheduling of games?

I’d play off the league entirely including the final before the championship begins. I’d also remove any late evening fixtures on Saturday and Sundays.

3. What’s your best memory as a club footballer and why?

My best memory has to be winning the championship final last year. It is every club player’s dream from when they start playing underage and move up through the ranks.

4. What’s your aspiration for the rest of the season?

The aspirations for this season, as they are for every senior club in Monaghan, is to win the championship again and defend our title.

Tiarnan Sludden (Dromore, Tyrone)

1. What do you think of the league and championship format in your county?

Current league and championship structures are brilliant in Tyrone. Friday night games, having been introduced by the CCC in 2021, have been a real success for all players and offer more flexibility for all involved. The finishing of the league before the championship is also brilliant when it can happen. Tyrone championship is the envy of many other counties across the country. The knock-out championship is brilliant as it assures you have to be on your game everyday.

2. What possible changes, if any, would you make to the formatting or scheduling of games?

I would make no changes to the current format.

3. What’s your best memory as a club player and why?

Easy answer here. Winning the championship in 2021 was a special feeling. Seeing the joy a club player can bring to young and old faces was brilliant.

4. What’s your aspiration for the rest of the season?

Aspirations for the year would be to take it one game at a time, keep building all the time. We’ll try to perform collectively to the best of our ability and see where this takes us.

Kane Connor (Belnaleck, Fermanagh)

1. What do you think of the league and championship format in your county?

At the minute, the initial club players league feels like glorified challenge games. The main league is fine, it’s self-explanatory. Having a championship round-robin is over-doing things, the same way as the new All-Ireland series. We also have a third, junior ‘league’ that feels a bit stale.

2. What possible changes, if any, would you make to the formatting or scheduling of games?

I would change it back to knock-out – the old-fashioned way which had nothing wrong with it in my opinion, upsets happen and if you’re not on it on the day, too bad. Second chances and group formats have no place in championship football and take away completely from what it should be.

3. What’s your best memory as a club player and why?

Probably from 2017-2020 we had great success and some great memories! We won the Junior and Intermediate Championship and then narrowly missing out on a senior final. I’ll also remember getting to the Ulster Junior final, we didn’t get the result unfortunately but there’s great memories. I will also always remember getting to the Ulster Junior Final with the club. Not the result unfortunately but great memories.

4. What’s your aspiration for the rest of the season?

Winning a senior league and championship.

Donal Morgan (Scotstown, Monaghan)

1. What do you think of the league and championship format in your county?

The group stage championship format is good. It gives plenty of meaningful matches and there always seems to be something on the line on the last day of the groups. We now only play a single league which players seem to like. But, this year it looks like all nine league games will be played without county players which seems too many.

2. What possible changes, if any, would you make to the formatting or scheduling of games?

I don’t have the answers. What I would say is I admire and appreciate Monaghan Co Board’s willingness to experiment with new formats. There has been a lot of changes to club and inter county formats this last few years and it is difficult to get everything perfect.

3. What’s your best memory as a club footballer?

2013 championship and league double. We hadn’t won a championship in 20 years so bridging that gap in 2013 was special. We won the league final a couple of weeks after that too. That final was actually played in Scotstown so that is a unique memory to have.

4. What’s your aspiration for the rest of the season?

It is always the same.

Mark Rooney (Stewartstown, Tyrone)

1. What do you think of the league and championship format in your county?

I really enjoyed the league and championship format last year. Finishing the league before the championship started saved most teams finishing off league games in October or November. It’s good to have a bit of down time too, it’s healthy – and you are ready to get back at it.

2. What possible changes, if any, would you make to the formatting or scheduling of games?

Theres not too many things I’d change in regards to formatting and scheduling of games. The Friday night matches have been brilliant for freeing up the weekends throughout summer, although they can be tough for ones who travel for work. It’s hard to suit everyone especially when every team has a mix of players – almost everyone is sacrificing something to be there. Personally the format suits me.

3. What’s your best memory as a club footballer?

I’ve been lucky enough to have lots of good memories playing for the Harps – we’ve had plenty of good days out and I don’t take that for granted. I hope there are plenty more to come but I don’t think anything will beat leading the team out onto Croke Park for the final last year. Despite the result it is my fondest memory – we had a great run.

4. What’s your aspiration for the rest of the season?

Aside from the obvious doing well in the league and championship, my main aim this year would be to develop the depth of the squad. We have some really talented young lads coming up and I’m looking forward to seeing that injection of youth alongside the experience of some of our more senior players

Ruairi Cunningham (Clonmore, Armagh)

1. What do you think of the league and championship format in your county?

In Armagh we now have played eight games and the last five have been on Friday nights. Our players are enjoying the Friday night fixtures as it gives the lads some freedom over the weekend, and in fairness our management have been great in that they have kept the rest of the weekend free from training. We are playing in Division 3A which is a seven-team league. The small number of teams means that there is very little difference between the clubs and the games have been very competitive. The system leaves us with 12 league games which is slightly less than we would like but as there are only 14 teams in junior (16 in senior and intermediate) it is difficult to find a system of providing further games. The leagues are linked to the championships in two ways, firstly that promotion also gives you entry to the intermediate championship the following year and secondly, your league finish position determines your seeding in the championship group stages. I feel this provides extra bite to the league and ensures that all games are meaningful.

2. What possible changes, if any, would you make to the formatting or scheduling of games?

County player availability. The players haven’t been available for any league games as of yet this year. Should Armagh get to the All -Ireland final it is unlikely that the county players will play in any league fixtures. Given the importance of the league due to its link to the championship, some clubs are adversely affected as their best players aren’t available. It’s a difficult balance to find though as the current system gives a good schedule of fixtures for club fixtures

3. What’s your best memory as a club footballer?

Winning the Junior Championship in 2016 after losing the 2011, 2013 and 2015 finals.

4. What’s your aspiration for the rest of the season?

To get back to Intermediate football after a difficult 2022 and win the Championship.