Gaelic Lives

The GAA should be more transparent at Central Council and Congress, that’s the analysis of former Down footballer Aidan Carr.

The Clonduff man makes the point in episode 15 of the Gaelic Life GAA discussion show Take Your Points, which will be broadcast this weekend. Another guest, former All-Ireland winning Armagh footballer Justin McNulty agrees with the point, and he added that one of the priorities that the GAA should make is to have equality for all players, whether they are from Leitrim or Dublin.

The two men made their points on the episode which focused on the debate about professionalism in the GAA. Gaelic Life columnist Cahal Carvill took opposing points in two of his columns, arguing first that professionalism would be bad for the GAA, and then in his second piece he pointed out that there were already hidden elements of pay for play, which the GAA should come clean about.

Both McNulty and Carr disagreed that professionalism would take over the GAA, however they supported the suggestion that the association should guard against any such situation arising.

The debate also moved on to the issue of penalties in the GAA. There was a mix of opinions with some supporting the practice, while other being against it.

However, the conclusion was that there should be more transparency about what the rule is, and also whether it should be used at ever level of club.

In episode 14, Antrim Director of Hurling Neal Peden joins Gaelic Lifers Shane Elliott and Ronan Scott to discuss the lack of recognision of the Joe McDonagh Cup, the future of Coaching in Antrim, and the Ulster Club Senior Hurling final between Dunloy and Slaughtneil.

Antrim manager Lenny Harbinson is the special guest this week. He joins Cahal Carvill and Ronan Scott to talk about why he is disappointed by the introduction of the offensive mark, why the tiered system is a bad idea, and also his hopes for the new season with Antrim.

The special guest on Episode 12 of Take Your Points is former Down Footballer Shane Mulholland. The Ballyholland man joins the team to talk about the highs and lows of his career, which include turning down a soccer career with Celtic, but also the highs of playing with some of the very best Down players.

He joins Cahal Carvill and Ronan Scott to discuss issues such as drugs in the GAA, the GPA, and also the current club championship, with a few predictions for this weekend's Down and Tyrone senior championship finals.

In Episode 11 of Take Your Points, former Derry player Paul McFlynn joins Gaelic Life columnist Gerard O’Kane and reporter Ronan Scott as they look at the big issues facing the GAA this week.

This week they debate RTE's decision to drop Joe Brolly for the All-Ireland final replay.

They look at Dublin’s All-Ireland victory, and how Jim Gavin’s team have managed to get so far ahead of the teams in Ulster.

The panel also discuss the changes to the GAA structures next year, and how a second tier is likely to affect counties like Derry, Down and Antrim.

And they also consider the issue of schools football, and the amalgamated An Dun team which won the Mageean Cup title last year.

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The possibility of a Team Ulster Hurling side has been again suggested by Michael McCullough in Episode Eight of Take Your Points.

Antrim man McCullough, who has long championed an Ulster select team that would compete against the best in Ireland, said that the proposal should be tried by Ulster council, as he says it will do no harm to help the cause of hurling in the province.

McCullough, who coached the Dublin hurlers, this year, joined Ronan Scott, Niall McCoy and Cahal Carvill on this week’s show which will be broadcast this weekend.

He also defended the GAA’s expenditure on Dublin, and explained why he thinks too much is made of the gap in resources afforded to the county.

Host Ronan Scott interviews Gaelic Life journalist Cahal Carvill who has been coming to terms with a serious injury, and how it may affect his playing career.

Carvill speaks about his rehab, and the advice he has been given from fellow players about how best to get back to the football and hurling fields.

The pair also debate TV coverage of GAA matches, in particular the lack of television time for the Joe Mc- Donagh Cup, and how air-time can affect participation.

Plus, they also take time to weigh up the potential of the two Ulster teams left in the All-Ireland Football Championship.

This week’s show sees the panel of Ronan Scott, Shane Elliott, Gerard O’Kane and Cahal Carvill discuss issues including criticism of players, sweeper systems and tiered championships.

Gerard O’Kane talks about getting slagged by Joe Brolly. Cahal Carvill expands on his column about the media’s lack of coverage of misdemeanors by rugby players, while Shane Elliott suggests that a tiered system may affect club football.

Watch the show live on NVTV (Freeview Channel 7 in Belfast, or Virgin media channel 159) or via NVTV Facebook.

Broadcast times are Friday at 20:15, and repeated on Saturday at 18:40 and Sunday at 22:30.

GAA discussion show with Gaelic Life. Ronan Scott talks to Chris Kerr about mental health in the GAA and his career with Antrim and St Gall's, Gerard O'Kane looks ahead to the Ulster football final, and the panel discuss the All-Ireland championship qualifiers and the use of Corrigan Park as a venue in the absence of Casement Park.