ARMAGH assistant manager Jim McCorry has questioned the wisdom of the Ulster Council continuing to retain the three university teams in the Dr McKenna Cup.
While Ulster University clubman Tommy Joe Farrell raised concerns over university players already being pulled in different directions in the pre-season competition, McCorry insists there are few benefits to either county or university teams participating in the same tournament.
Armagh hammered St Mary’s 6-17 to 1-7 in last month’s McKenna Cup group opener, Queen’s lost by 10 points to Donegal although UU grabbed a draw with Fermanagh.
But McCorry doesn’t believe the university teams have been sufficiently competitive to warrant remaining in the McKenna Cup, and feels some calendar tweaks would benefit the student teams.
“Everybody wants to see a nice balance where players aren’t being pulled between club, county and college,” said McCorry.
“The players are training for long periods and don’t get enough rest. There’s probably nobody more interested in that than Kieran McGeeney.
“If you’re going to start the League in January, most managers would want games in December. So play the McKenna Cup in December, or at least the round robin games, and play the semi-finals and final after Christmas [before the start of the National Football League].
“[But] Do we really need the universities in the McKenna Cup? With the greatest respect to them, they might get the odd draw or win but they are heavily beaten in other games.
“A lot of players want to be playing for their county because that’s what they want to do longer term. But then managers are having to discuss with the colleges over players.”
St Mary’s, Queen’s and Ulster University have been part of the McKenna Cup landscape since the early ‘Noughties’ as it was deemed excellent preparation for the upcoming Sigerson Cup.
McCorry, however, feels moving Sigerson to immediately after the Ryan Cup [university league football] would benefit the players involved.
“The key point here is if Sigerson took place after the Ryan Cup that concludes the universities' seasons [before Christmas] and allows the players to get on with their studies and county football would be able to get on without conflict [over players] trying to serve different masters.
“Certainly there are debates every year over players availability.”
Last month, Farrell articulated the frustration felt by university teams not having first call on the players and confirmed that the colleges would seek a meeting with the Ulster Council to insist that players named in university panels cannot be called up by county managers in future.
UU were without seven players for their opener with Fermanagh. Benny Gallen, Brian Kennedy, Ben McDonald and David Mulgrew (Tyrone), Gareth McKinless (Derry), Ryan Owens and Jason Duffy (Armagh) were all involved with their counties.
McCorry added: “We beat St Mary’s something like 6-17 to 1-7 and the game was gone at half-time. So you say to yourself: ‘Is there any benefit for the county in that? Is there any real benefit for St Mary’s?’
“Jordanstown maybe have a stronger team… Most counties have their in-house games but they prefer to have two or three games before the League starts.
“Universities might not be happy as they like the McKenna Cup for their Sigerson Cup preparations but you’ve got to ask yourself the worth to both [county and university]?”
“It’s about trying to get the calendar right but that has never been properly addressed… The new rules are occupying people at the minute and the calendar hasn’t got as much focus.
“The calendar is probably one of the most important things that needs to be sorted out.”
Orchard players Ben Crealey and Conor O’Neill are currently in the Queen’s panel while Jason Duffy could yet play some McKenna Cup football with Ulster University.
Likewise, Jarlath Og Burns with St Mary’s after he played in Armagh’s thumping victory over the Falls Road-based students.
