By Kieran Lynch

WITH the new split-season now in full flow, and intercounty teams’ seasons coming to an end on a weekly basis, the debate rages on about its pros and cons.

Ronan Sheehan has a foot in both camps as both the manager of the Down hurlers and his local club, Newry Shamrocks, and he is unequivocally in support of the changes, despite his county team’s season coming to an end in the second-last week of May.

“It’s definitely unusual, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not right,” he said.

“I’m frustrated that there are a lot of people in the media who are pushing the line that, ‘we’re finishing too early,’ without even giving it the time to wash through the system.

“From a purely selfish view as a county manager, would I like another couple of weeks so that we had more time between our matches? Yes I would, but that’s just me being totally selfish. Do I see the benefits of the split-season for the GAA as a whole? Absolutely.

“I think the big positive that has been missed in all of this, is that it has provided players with an opportunity to go and have a proper holiday, with their partners, or whatever the case may be. Let’s not be under any illusions – partners and families put up with a lot to support those who play intercounty.

“If you’re finishing now in the first or second week of June, you can plan and go on a proper holiday and you’re still back in plenty of time for the club championship.

“There needs to be a balance in all of this. The sacrifices made by those who play intercounty – whatever the level is – is incredible. But these guys are human beings, they have exams to do, careers to build and lives to live. I think the split season allows for that balance.”

Of course, the intercounty scene has long been the focal point of the GAA’s attention and there are no signs of that slowing up anytime soon. However, Sheehan is of the opinion that the club scene is deserving of a little bit more love and attention, because it is the foundation of the Association.

“If the club championships are marketed correctly, look at the fantastic stories that are available in every one of the 32 counties of Ireland, every weekend,” said Sheehan.

“In my opinion, the club championships have the potential to grow our game far more than anything we do at intercounty level. The clubs are the heartbeat of the GAA. We’ve allowed intercounty to become our only shop window for the Association.

“It’s not only positive from a player perspective, but also from an association perspective. There’s also an opportunity from a media perspective – the clubs are where the interesting stories are. The interesting characters of the club, the lad who’s come back from Australia, somebody who has overcome tragedy in their family. Those are the things that people want to read.

“Plus, they’re willing to talk, instead of being put in a strait jacket by managers and not being allowed to talk to the media. We complain that we’re not promoting our games, then cutting off and not giving the opportunities to those who could actually promote them.”

With the Down season over, Sheehan is preparing for the Shamrocks’ return to Senior Championship hurling for the first time in a generation this summer, but despite missing some key players to emigration, he doesn’t begrudge his players living their lives.

“We have a couple of boys away in Canada and Australia, so that’s a bit of a blow. But so what? They have to live their lives too,” said Sheehan, before discussing one such story that you only get from the GAA club scene.

“To be honest I love being involved in intercounty scene, but sure wasn’t I playing in goals in the Down League the other night against some of my own players?

“It was brilliant to be back playing to be honest, because we lost our goalkeeper for the year and I’m back in nets!

“Look, you’ll be long enough on the high stool as they say.”