GAELIC GAMES:It must have been something of a first for GAA president Nickey Brennan to attend the launch of a championship he'd previously hoped wouldn't take place. But following last month's decision of the special congress to reject the Burnout Task Force recommendation for a new under-19 grade, it's business as usual for the under-21 championship.
The football championship gets under way this weekend, starting in Leinster, with championship sponsors Cadbury still on board for what is the last year of a three-year deal. Negotiations to renew that contract haven't yet begun, given the future of the competition has only recently been guaranteed, although Brennan suggested the issue of burnout surrounding the under-21 grade hasn't entirely disappeared.
"We've put that to rest," he said. "But there is still some unfinished business relating to the whole issue of burnout, which we will address post-Congress. But the quality of this competition was never at stake here. It was the process we felt needed to be looked at.
"But we've had that argument now, and it's been moved on . . . The quality of the under-21 championship in both football and hurling has been exceptional in recent years. And I'm sure it will be another great year."
Present for yesterday's launch in Croke Park was Kerry's Killian Young, the aptly named 2007 Young Footballer of the Year, and still young enough to assist in Kerry's effort to win the All-Ireland under-21 football title for the first time since 1998. They start out against Limerick in three weeks' time, and are taking nothing for granted given they lost last year's opening game against Clare.
"I'm just as excited about it as the senior championship," he said, "and can't wait to get it going. I think this is one championship Kerry have left behind, and need to get right again. We haven't been producing for a while, and people in Kerry still expect a lot from the under-21s.
"I think it's a great opportunity this year, especially with Seán Geaney, our manager, also a selector with the seniors. Obviously players have a better chance of being spotted if they do well here. With Seán inside as well there's a good working relationship with Pat O'Shea, the senior manager."
Young has been on Kerry's under-21 team for the past three years, coming on to the panel straight out of the minor grade. Although he played Sigerson football one year with Tralee IT, he doesn't see any problem with burnout - as long as there is such a thing as the closed season.
"I think it's a very valuable grade, and I'm delighted it's continuing. If they'd got rid of it and went down to under-19s I think a lot fewer players coming out of minor would have got the chance. The under-21 level is much closer to senior, and really where you get the opportunity. The more time you play underage with Kerry at all levels the better, because if you just go back to the club I think the standard does drop.
"I've been lucky enough in terms of avoiding burnout. It would still be nice to get that break in November and December. I was lucky this year in that I got injured, which is an awful thing to say, but it meant I got my break. But I don't mind playing every weekend. That's what I live to do, and enjoy."
Meanwhile, Brennan stated that Kilkenny's request to have their National Hurling League match with Cork fixed for this weekend, rather than have the points awarded to Kilkenny as a result of Cork's failure to fulfil the game as scheduled, is still in the hands of the Central Competitions Control Committee: "We're not getting involved. The CCCC have deliberated on the matter, and they have our support.
"I'm well aware of Kilkenny's attitude to these things, and that they're only interested in playing hurling. It was a decent gesture by them. But no matter what way I feel about it, it is a CCCC matter, and we'll leave it to them."
