GPA CEO Tom Parsons has called for the abolition of the provincial pre-season competitions.
The GPA have lobbied the GAA’s Central Council for the removal of tournaments such as the Walsh Cup, Munster Hurling League, McGrath Cup, McKenna Cup and O’Byrne Cup.
Parsons says that taking away the pre-season tournaments would mean a longer off season for inter-county players, with an uninterrupted pre-season starting later.
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Provincial Councils have angered the GPA in recent years by fixing pre-season games before Christmas.
This year’s schedule for provincial pre-season competitions has yet to be finalised.
“We have lobbied at Central Council for the removal of pre-season competitions,” said Parsons.
“Particularly in the McKenna Cup, they are competitive competitions.
“Had those competitions been removed, we could have pushed the return to training date into December.
“But because they are starting in early January, it’s important to get those six weeks (pre-season).”
If pre-season competitions go ahead, the GPA insists they have to be in January.
“Our line would be that they are to commence in January to allow that uninterrupted window (for pre season training)," said Parsons.
The current return to collective training date for inter-county squads is November 24.
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