GAA in talks to limit numbers leaving Ireland for the AFL
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
The Pat Kenny Show. With Timber Living Log Cabins. Saturday and Sunday from 10am on Newstalk. Conversation that counts. It's the turn of women's football at Croke Park today when Kerry and Galway face off in the senior final. In the intermediate final, it'll be Fermanagh versus Roscommon and in the junior, Carlo versus Antrim. But behind all of this, off the pitch, there's a growing crisis in the men's and women's games and that is the exodus of star players to Australia to play in professional AFL games there. The imminent departure of Kobe McDonald from Mayo, I suppose... a star of that all-Ireland winning team, has highlighted the issue more than before. It's believed that the GAA and the Australian Football League have reportedly held discussions about introducing measures to limit the number of players departing Ireland for Aussie rules.
According to a report on the AFL's official website, the GAA has flagged different rules to limit the best young talents being poached by AFL clubs. And that measure might include capping the number of players that can be signed from each county. For more on today's games and on that topic, I'm joined now by former Waterford footballer Michelle Ryan. Michelle, good morning. Good morning, Pass. You're heading to Crowe Park.
I am. I'm getting ready to cross the road here now and work on the three games. Looking forward to them. Chance for three teams in all three finals to make history because there's been a wait of, I think it's 22 years for Galway in the senior, 25 years for Roscommon in the intermediate and Carlow have never won an All-Ireland final. So yeah, looking forward to the three games.
I suppose all of those underdogs will be taking some inspiration from Mayo last week.
Oh, you would imagine so, wouldn't you? That's exactly it. I suppose it goes to show that the hard work, perseverance pays off.
What prompted talks between the GAA and AFL about limiting player departures?
Now, I know they had a bit of a wait, 75 years is quite a long, long wait and a lot of perseverance. But without a shadow of a doubt, it's what's great about sport, isn't it? That it brings those memories and sport teaches us all massive lessons in life with regards to hard work and commitment. And there's always tougher days in sport unless you're on a really successful team than there are good days. But days like last Sunday in Crowe Park just highlight, I suppose, how important sport is and the joy that can be received for all the hard work the players put in at the end of the day.
Now, you played for, what, almost two decades at the top level?
I played for Watford for 19 seasons, Pat. Yeah, I suppose. Look, I grew up with the sport in my family. My dad was actually involved in coaching and managing the Watford ladies football since I was about 10 months. So I think I was 10 months when I was a mascot for Watford in the 1986 season. junior All-Ireland it was actually the first ladies football All-Ireland that was played in Croke Park which is 40 years ago now so you could say I've grown up with it so yeah I played for quite a long time at Watford mixed I suppose mixed results in the sense that I was a mascot during the golden era of the 90s when I started playing then We went through a tough patch. We were relegated to intermediate, but we came back up to senior after the intermediate win in 2015 and have been senior.
And I suppose since and in fairness to the girls, they've really been putting it up to the top teams in the country the last few years.
So who are you calling it for in the senior game today?
You know what? It's a tough one. And actually, most people I'm talking to in the last week have been tipping Galway, even though Kerry are the All-Ireland champions of two years ago. It was the same contest two years ago, Kerry versus Galway. It wasn't quite the competitive match that people were expecting at the time. The writing was on the wall at halftime that Kerry were ahead. And after 45 minutes, they got a second goal and that kind of put an end to the contest. Most people, I think all people really are expecting a much tighter contest this year.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:01–1:57
2
What prompted talks between the GAA and AFL about limiting player departures?
1:57–5:43
3
Who is Michelle Ryan and what perspective does she bring on Croke Park finals?
5:43–7:14
4
How has ladies football history and performance at county level been described?
7:14–13:29