LGFA has a lot done but much more to do

The LGFA held its annual Congress in Letterkenny in County Donegal last weekend, with local man Micheál Naughton – a native of Castleconnor – handing over the Presidential medal to his successor Trina Murray, who played for 13 years with Westmeath at inter-county level.

Murray is the 14th President of the LGFA and it is quite possible she could be the last as integration looms on the horizon. 2027 is being pinpointed as the target date for integration between the GAA, the LGFA and the Camogie Association into one organisation to administer our national games across the island.

The confirmation of the new President was merely a ceremonial part of proceedings at the Clanree Hotel, with comments from the association’s CEO grabbing most of the headlines.

In her remarks, Helen O’Rourke described members of the LGFA as being among the ‘worst supporters’ of their games, in regard to the attendance levels at the three football finals held in August. The crowd of just over 30,000 was the lowest since 2014, which, in the context of an association that has 200,000 members, does seem to be on the small side. However, the progress the LGFA has made over the last couple of decades should not be assessed solely on the attendance at the showpiece event but rather on the wider association and how women’s football is run countrywide, at all levels.

The rise in standards across the board has been evident in recent seasons, with the quality of football on show being thoroughly enjoyable. Indeed, the women’s game has outshone the men’s game in many instances; ladies football often displayed much more attacking intent and offered the neutral viewer plenty in the way of entertainment in recent seasons.

The men’s game is blessed to have stars like David Clifford and Shane Walsh as poster boys as they dazzle crowds week-to-week, but Armagh’s Aimee Mackin is as good as footballer as there is in the country. The recently retired Kerry forward Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh also falls into that category while Mayo has produced one of the best players either code has ever seen in Cora Staunton.

Role models are important, and it was notable in the case of Shane Walsh last week to read his comments after his last-gasp free helped Galway eke out a 1-18 apiece draw with Tyrone in Tuam. Speaking to Maurice Brosnan of the Irish Examiner, Walsh recalled advice he was given in the early years of his Galway career when he was told by some to head off to America for the summer and play his football there, as Galway struggled to make an impact on the provincial and All-Ireland stage back home.

Needless to say, he believes he is right where he needs to be now as Galway look primed to give the All-Ireland another right crack this year, with the set-up now as professional as it gets. Inter-county footballers, especially those plying their trade at the top level, are well looked after and Walsh seems to be really enjoying himself right now. His comments seem quite apt this week in the aftermath of the LGFA Congress, with the sport itself being shorn of several role models due to the flood of players leaving to play Australian Rules in the ALFW.

A trickle of players dipping their toe in down under has now developed into a flood, with a count earlier this year indicating that 40-odd Irish players are now participating in the AFLW.

Mayo folk need not be reminded of the talent they have lost to the game down under, with several high profile players making the journey to Australia to try their hand at Aussie Rules. Other counties too have been negatively impacted, leaving the women’s game without many of its best players.

One cannot blame the players for taking up the opportunities presented to them by a contract offer to try their hand at a professional sport, plus the lifestyle of being a full-time or part-time athlete in a much nicer climate than Ireland also feeds into the decision-making process. But it’s worth considering the impact of the AFLW compared to its counterpart for male players and ask the question why more male footballers have not taken the jump to move down under.

Some have over the years, but it has been nowhere near as significant a talent drain as the AFLW has been in recent years. If it continues in a similar vein, the stream of players going to Australia will continue to damage the product back home.

So what can be done about it?

Well, firstly, one cannot stand in the way of players making a personal decision for themselves. If someone wants to try it out, then you can’t prevent them from taking the opportunity. And, it should be pointed out, that male and female players have decided on their own accord to take time out of the inter-county game for a variety of reasons other than another sport demanding their full attention. But perhaps the LGFA can make its own product more attractive to its own players.

Think about these questions: how can we increase crowds at ladies matches across the year and not just at championship finals? Is enough being done to incentivise participation in ladies football at senior inter-county level through expenses, college scholarships and so on? Are the top players in the LGFA given as much exposure as the top GAA players?

Small things may help reverse the trend and make players think twice about moving down under.

The product the LGFA has is already good, with Meath’s breakthrough in recent years one of the best sporting stories we have seen in this country in quite a long time. The product would undoubtedly be embellished further by counties having access to the best players they have at their disposal.

Integration and full equality will surely be a positive step along the way but before then, the LGFA will be hopeful of retaining its best talent to ensure the next generation can watch on and be inspired by the best the country has to offer.