You all know the ad. The samba style music. The plate of ham and veg wrapped up in cling film on a lonely table. The lad desperately willing the clock forward during his exams. The unbelievably awkward pause as the word “shift” is just left to hang in the air…
To be fair, the Electric Ireland “This is Major” campaign is indeed very memorable.
It points towards a society which lauds its young minor athletes and puts them on the same pedestal as their adult counterparts. However, I’m sorry to say, the great world of advertising is losing its touch in this instance. Electric Ireland may have to call in a guru of Don Draper’s standards because players just aren’t putting themselves up for the hardship.
One of the key culprits behind this great exodus from minor hurling and football has been the change to under 17. A decision taken back in 2016, and like most things, the reasons behind it were pure. There was a desire from delegates at the February congress to free players from the shackles of the Leaving Cert. Let them become national champions and heroes of their community before tackling English Paper 1 and willing that same clock forward.
The unintended consequences of this change has been to bring the pressure and workload forward onto younger shoulders. Sixteen year olds are now tasked with carrying the county colours to glory. They go from playing club games with only Mammy roaring on the side-line to primetime television slots with the whole country watching.
It’s no wonder why some are saying no more.
What message are we sending to those who stay? By 17, you need to be the man. Unless you’re one of the lucky few with access to multiple under 20 games a season, your next jump up is against the grizzled 37 year old veterans who remember your first birthday party. Could we see players turning to supplements and other dangerous practices to ready their still developing bodies for the graft of senior?
That’s a problem that has haunted schools rugby for at least a decade and may find itself worming its way into the rural GAA school too.
Secondary school teacher and selector for the Wexford’s under 20 hurlers Rory Jacob has recently been very strong on this issue. He sees and speaks to minor players every day. He’s watching the light and love for the game fade from their eyes. Speaking to South East Radio’s Sports Hour, Jacob highlighted one case in particular.
“I was talking to a fella in school and his own club were in an under 17 minor final last year. There was eight 17 year olds on that team. I just asked him the question, how many of those went on to play under 20 this year and he replied 3. That’s 5 who have fallen away. That’s over 60% who have given up the game a year after a minor final. To me, that’s very very worrying,” Jacob said.
Many players rightly feel that there are two main issues here. One, as previously mentioned, is the mental and physical toll that it takes for someone so young to be put on the national stage. The other is the lack of a thriving under 20 grade to make that step from minor to senior more manageable.
Here in county Wexford, we’re becoming accustomed to seeing the dreaded CONC beside under 20 fixtures as teams are unwilling or unable to fulfil the fixture list.
This is not just a Wexford problem either. Sunday Independent columnist Joe Brolly pointed to the collapse of an under 20 league where he says the grade is “self defeating”. Underage coach in Meath, Bernard Flynn, has called the move a “total disaster”. Likewise, Monaghan has become the first county to publicly back the return to under 18 lead by the stewardship of referee Pat McEnaney. They surely won’t be the last.
The Irish Examiner reported last week that the GAA are looking into the idea of dropping under 20 to under 19. This would cut the gap to the minors, but as we’ve pointed out, there’s no point unless the backing is given to the grade from both officials and teams.
Kildare have retained under 18 and introduced an under 23 grade which appears to be thriving. It’s certainly putting the Lilywhites on the intercounty map including at Wexford’s own expense when hurling in Newbridge last year. Major shock and surprise was expressed at the 0-16 to 1-12 win for the home side but they knew it had been coming for years.
Back to the future appears to be the way to go.
McEnaney’s Corduff proposal is getting support right around the island. Players themselves aren’t happy with the current situation and are voting with their feet. The trickle is becoming a flood and with other sports on offer, those stars may not shine in the GAA again. A return to under 18 has to be looked at in the very least. The exams be damned. As Johnny Logan once sang, what’s another year? Well, quite a bit, mate.
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