There is an irony when it comes to inter county players and the GAA. 
On one hand it is true to say that they have never been as powerful. 
Players need only whisper a few words to a few journalists and a manager’s days are numbered. 
And of course in terms of their celebrity, players are more recognisable than ever and they are great ambassadors for our games in that regard. 
Yet for all this the reality is that when it comes to major issues no-one really listens to them. 
This despite the GPA now being part of the GAA establishment.
The latest codswallop over a ‘B’ Championship is a case in point. 
The GAA’s Ard Comhairle has proposed that a motion be included in Congress next month that any division four team who doesn’t make their provincial final be dropped to a ‘B’ Championship.
It is patronising rubbish of the highest order. 
Antrim’s Sean McVeigh spoke about the proposed changes in an interview with the Irish News. 
He recalls the ill fated Tommy Murphy Cup which was introduced over a decade a go and says that any changes along those lines would lead to general apathy. His words are worth reproducing.
“A lot of boys saw it (The Tommy Murphy Cup) as not an important competition. If we get put out of the Championship (under the proposed changes), I will maybe concentrate on the club - I’m not going to be putting in three nights training.
"So I would personally be against it and, speaking to people in counties similar to Antrim, we don’t feel short-changed.”
The important thing to take from McVeigh’s comments is that he does not feel shot changed by the current system and that he feels other players in division four counties feel the same. 
Yet despite ample evidence that players will treat any ‘B’ Championship with disdain the top brass in the GAA seem determined to drive change when there is no appetite nor value to it.
The GAA should be here to serve its members and in turn the members serve the GAA yet this proposed change will have a huge negative effect on the counties it is imposed on.
The whole thing is a nonsense that has been driven by pundits who are looking for soundbites on the Sunday Game when they haven’t the professionalism to properly research the ‘weaker’ county that they are supposed to be analysing. 
You can write the script now.
 A solemn looking Des Cahill asking what needs to be done after Dublin wallop somebody in Leinster and an equally sombre looking panellist returning his gaze with a grave shake of the head, 
“I think we need a tiered system Des, that is no good for anybody what happened out there today. 
"Nobody benefits from that and certainly not football in the weaker counties.”
Shut up!
 How about learning a few of the names of the players from the weaker counties. 
And while you are at it maybe do some proper analysis into the last 20 years of results and realise that the only ‘gap’ that is occurring is between the top four or five counties and the rest, not the bottom eight and the rest. 
Lazy cheap headlines from lazy pundits is driving this whole agenda and despite the obvious evidence that players from division four counties do not want these changes it seems decision makers will plough on ahead regardless.
 The players who this effects will not be listened to.
No doubt when the decision is made it will be spun with some claptrap about the need to give teams the opportunity to play at their level and have a realistic opportunity of winning a trophy, conveniently forgetting the fact that squads will haemorrhage players the minute they exit their provincial championship and that patched up half teams will be left to battle it out for a trophy that no-one wants.
Player burnout is another area where players views are simply ignored. 
We have endless discussions about the Sigerson Cup and scrapping the under 21 championship and it is all smoke and mirrors if we are being honest.
 When the haze clears the fact remains that the inter county season is too long and nobody wants to really grasp that nettle.
The GPA do great work in so many areas but I don’t see a motivation on their behalf to seriously tackle this problem while the GAA itself will never alter its fixtures to the extent that is needed to help players. 
The dogmatic position of the provincial councils along with the obsession of HQ to have a long season means the the players are destined to be flogged.
I would love for the GPA to ask their members one simply question. 
Just 15 words and a one word answer. 
“Would you like to see the inter county season shortened by two months or more”.
Ask the question in those stark terms. Don’t try and influence the outcome and let’s see what the response is.
 What the honest thoughts of the players are. I am convinced there would be an overwhelming majority in favour of reducing the season. 
This one simple move would reduce the demands on players significantly. It would also reduce costs on county boards while also freeing up time to allow club football to be treated with a little bit of dignity.
None of this will happen though.
 Instead we will get more discussions, more papers, more reviews, more smoke and mirrors and more flogging of the players. 
And of course without doubt more ignoring of what the players really think and want.