Power frustrated by football format change rejection

By Shane Brophy

Tipperary senior football manager David Power had admitted his disappointment over the rejection of change to the format of the inter-county football championship at Special Congress at Croke Park last Saturday.

The so-called ‘Proposal B’ which would have turned the National League into the championship to be played from April through July, with the provincial championships beforehand, garnered 50.6% of the vote, well short of the 60% required to be passed.

“We are all disappointed that there is no change,” admitted the Tipperary manager who has urged the powers that be to move quickly to ensure a new proposal is drafted in time for the next Congress in February next year so a new format can be brought in for 2023.

“It’s not good enough for Larry McCarthy (GAA President) to come out and say we’ll put a committee in place, and I notice he hasn’t said there would be something in place for the February Congress, I think it is a must there should be something at the February Congress.

“I’m not sure who were on the previous committees, but the committee structures have to be looked at. Instead of just former Presidents and former administrators, they should really be looking at having current players and managers on it. They should be trying to go with one proposal they feel can pass.”

The rejection of a new format for the moment will mean 2022 will see Tipperary start off in division four in February, March, and early April the championship reverting to pre-2017 with provincial championships leading into the All-Ireland series and qualifiers, although if Tipperary don’t win a Munster title, they won’t be in the qualifiers and will go straight into the Tailteann Cup.

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