Tipperary manager Liam Cahill says something must be done to address the packed and intense schedule involving players who play both the National League and the Fitzgibbon Cup.
Following three rounds of the National League, the Fitzgibbon Cup final between UL and Mary Immaculate College is down for decision next week.
Tipperary have a number of players lining out.
“I’ve said it after the Galway and the Offaly games that the month of January and into the second week of February was going to be really difficult to manage when you have five players involved in the Fitzgibbon Cup final on Friday night.
“Oisín O’Donoghue and Darragh McCarthy have to play again in the Fitzgibbon final and a few more we left off tonight. It is not simple. It is definitely something that has to be looked at next year.
“I hear talks of maybe an extra group or extra matches in the Fitzgibbon next year. Something will have to give. It is just not feasible to play here in front of the crowds and the level we are playing when fellas have played equally competitive and aggressive games 48 hours before.
“We are talking out of both sides of our mouth in the GAA if we continue to allow that to happen in relation to player welfare. It has to work some way better. Assign a five or six week period for it and just get it played off and Fitzgibbon players be with their colleges only for that period of time. Or whether the Fitzgibbon goes to a simple ‘one chance and you are beaten and finished’.
“There are fellas more equipped to come up with the solutions than me. I think it is definitely something that has to be looked at.”
As both sides finished with 14 men, Tipperary lost to Cork 0-29 to 0-22 in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday night. A black card was also issued to Johnny Ryan in the first half.
“I like the idea of the black card. It is a very quick decision to see whether or not there is nobody back, whether it is warranted. We could maybe have said the same about Willie Connors going through in the second half, we tried to maybe look for it, but the explanation we were given was that there were more red jerseys back than was required for a black card.
“It has to be fairly clear though, hasn’t it. It is alright in the National League but when it comes to the third round of the Munster championship and everything is on the line, they will be big calls when they do arrive.
“If that is the case, it is a rule I wouldn’t be giving out about anyway.”
While the result was disappointing for the visitors, Cahill says they will take a lot from the performance.
“Disappointed with the result, seven points. I thought maybe we could have been a bit closer than that, just in reflection. Probably the start of the second half hurt us a little bit, we left a few chances after us and then towards the end of the game I suppose Cork just made better decisions on the ball and kicked on as we started to tire.
“The second half as well Cork would have got a lot of their puckouts off and that would have hurt us as well. They are areas we have to go after.
“Happy the way we withstood the Cork pressure after the black card. It is important to mention that.
“All in all, a really good workout. Huge crowd. Learned lots. Nice to get some bit of a break now after three weeks on the go.”
Of the sendings-off, he added: “I couldn’t really see what instigated it or what happened. I think the two players (Shane Barrett and Jason Forde) in question were just misfortunate in a lot of ways to be the two to pay the price. Talking to the officials afterwards it was a case of bringing control back into the game. I think it will be minimal enough in relation to suspensions.”
