Laois to vote against Black Card proposal at GAA Congress

Laois delegates to the GAA’s annual conrgess in Cavan this weekend will vote against the proposal that would see the Black Card sin bin introduced to hurling.

Clubs at Monday night’s County Board meeting mandated the Laois delegates to vote against the proposal that would see a ten-minute sin bin introduced to hurling for specified fouls, similar to what exists in hurling.

A total of 63 motions are due to be voted on at the weekend – but Laois GAA chairman Peter O’Neill didn’t go through all of them, instead allowing clubs raise issues where they saw fit.

Camross delegate Ursula Dunphy proposed that Laois vote against the introduction of the Black Card and was seconded by former Laois GAA chairman Brian Allen who is now the Trumera delegate.

“The Black Card shouldn’t be brought into hurling under any circumstances,” was Brian Allen’s view – and there was no argument to the contrary.

Among the other rule changes mentioned was Motion 39, which is proposing that any U-20 player that features in the National League should not be allowed to play in the U-20 grade. Laois delegates are opposed to that.

Motion 6 calls for a rule whereby a goalkeeper can’t take a return pass from a short kickout, with St Joseph’s Michael Moore speaking out against that while the clubs were also against Motions 39 and 40, which are suggesting that second level schools competitions be finished by the seventh weekend of the year.

The one proposal that found favour with the Laois delegates was the one that would see less Super 8 games played in Croke Park. O’Moore Park, as a neutral venue, could benefit from such a decision.

In all, however, Laois delegates expressed their frustration at decisions that the GAA are making at national level.

“Is someone up in Croke Park just coming up with these things for the sake of it,” queried Portarlington delegate Michael Lawlor.

“It’s not for the betterment of clubs. Some of the decisions are just crazy – it doesn’t make any sense at all.”

He added that “the association was once run by the clubs but it looks like all rules are formulated in Croke Park – the clubs don’t have a say anymore”.

“The county boards are being weakened all the time.”

Rathdowney delegate Justin Kavanagh agreed, saying that Laois should set up a committee to see where they want the association going.

“We need to get the full picture and see what the GAA are trying to achieve.

“What do they want with the age groups, with the calendar. Are they just ideas for the sake of it.

“What are they trying to do. They have lads playing Fitzgibbon Cup on a Thursday night and in the league on a Sunday. And they go on about player welfare?

“And then they bring us (Laois hurlers) down to play in Clare in the middle of an Orange weather warning. They’re having a laugh.

“Let’s be straight. We’re too fond of nodding and going with what we’re told. But let Laois take the lead on this and let it be known we’re not happy with the treatment of players.”

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source https://www.laoistoday.ie/2020/02/28/laois-to-vote-against-black-card-proposal-at-gaa-congress/