Anthony Cunningham has hit out at the GAA’s ‘shameful’ football Championship system.
The Roscommon boss, who led his native Galway to two All-Ireland hurling final appearances, said huge resources are put into county teams and for them to be gone after just one match is not acceptable.
“The number of highly skilled professionals from sports science in the backroom team … it is basically like a mini company you are running,” said Cunningham.
“It is wrong. There will be club competitions but at the national stage I think it is shame,” added Cunningham, pointing out that 14 teams are now gone from the All-Ireland title race and will not have any action until 2022.
The Rossies boss believes the investment in teams needs a longer season – even allowing for Covid.
“It doesn’t make sense. But that is just our opinion. We are just saying the amount of work that goes into every single team, I think it needs to be addressed.
“I couldn’t believe it when we didn’t get a back door. Because we would have been out again next weekend and then half those teams would be gone and whoever won would go through again. I think overall, provincial championships and All-Ireland series, I think they would want to look at that.”
He lamented that while they were not far off Galway, they just could not get their noses in front and build a winning hand.
“We were very close. I know there were five points in it, 13 scores versus 12, if you look at it that way,” added Cunningham.
“Really hard conditions, but proud of our players – they fought hard and just came up short.”
