Calls for U18 players to be free to play at adult level

A motion from the Multyfarnham club regarding young players, proposing that they be permitted to play adult football and hurling in their final year at U18, generated considerable discussion at the County Convention in Bloomfield House Hotel, Mullingar.

In general, convention was typically uneventful, but the Multyfarnham motion got clubs engaged and some were in favour of the move: in the past minor players (U18s) could play at adult level in Westmeath, but this changed when age grades were controversially overhauled. This year Westmeath voted to return to U18 but with the proviso that it be decoupled from adult grades.

“God help us: I’m worn out at this stage dealing with this one,” was Chairman Frank Mescall’s initial reaction.

“I honestly thought we had decided on this issue, way back when we had the proposals for the special congress. And we decided by a big, big majority to go with U12, 14, (16) and 18, with decoupling. But here we are back again.”

He pointed out that it is a matter for planning and no vote could be taken at convention.

Multyfarnham’s Mark Bardon was unimpressed that it could not be voted on at convention and asked for a clarification on the rule. A competition regulation would now have to be introduced at a county committee meeting, dealing with planning, in order to change the decision on decoupling, Patrick Doherty, Westmeath GAA head of operations, explained. This is on foot of a decision at the special congress in September, supported by 91% of delegates.

Proposing the motion, Mr Bardon felt that in terms of fairness and equality, young players in the final year at U18 should be allowed to play at adult level. They were permitted to do so in 2023, so there is an inconsistency there, he argued.

Other counties do allow U18s to play adult football and hurling and players are exposed to high levels of training, improving their skill range. For clubs with smaller player numbers, it could be vital to have U18s playing adult games as there could be fall-off if the club is unable to field an adult team.

They would bring energy and enthusiasm to adult squads, he said, bringing more followers to adult teams. It would foster a more inclusive and development-orientated environment for all young athletes, he felt, pointing out that clubs who have no under 20 team will need to retain players. Other sports allow U18s to play at adult level, he argued.

Mr Mescall pointed out that while other counties are operating differently, he is not privy to the decision they made for special congress.

Maurice Duncan (Milltownpass) seconded the motion.

St Joseph’s, who had a similar motion on the clár, lent their support, pointing out that Westmeath is now telling adults they can’t play adult football, which they argued is unfair. “They can vote, they can drive, they can own a home: if they’re born on the 1st of January, they can’t play division 7 football. It doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense,” said Daire Lynam.

While player welfare is an issue, only a small number of players are affected at the top level. The vast majority will only be playing for two or three teams. “We have it weighted in a way that protects only a couple of players,” he remarked, pointing out that St Joseph’s pulled out of the U19 competition this year because they had junior ‘B’ in the same week which shows they are conscious of protecting their players from burn-out.

“Telling an adult they can’t play adult football - we are doing them a disservice in my view,” he added.

Mr Mescall felt, in the long-run, Westmeath are doing young players a service by decoupling U18 and adult grades.

“I have seen it myself, so many players are introduced to adult football too young. They are not developed physically and they are brilliant for a couple of years. Then, they suffer injuries and they fade away. Maybe if they got that extra year to develop (it would prepare them for adult grades),” he said.

Pat Clavin of Castletown Geoghegan also gave the club’s support, saying players at 18 are able to make up their own mind on the issue. The option should be there for them, he argued, saying that clubs struggling with numbers have to be considered. He felt Westmeath is not promoting the game as well as they should be with this restriction.

Mr Mescall suggested the issue would be open to abuse.

“You would wish to think that managers would be very responsible and wouldn't play them (U18s). But I think I live in the real world and know the answer to that one, especially when we are talking about good players,” he said.

“St Joseph's mentioned they would be only playing one or two games: well, they will be playing U19 or U20, junior ‘B’ or intermediate, junior proper or senior. Double up that with hurling and football. You are talking about a significant number of games for young players.

“Okay, he can vote, he is an adult, but be careful of the load you are putting on him.”

Bunbrosna’s JP Reynolds supported the motion and said most of the U18s are playing in college at much older grades. He felt a change could be made to protect U18 players from playing college football or hurling as well and this would lessen the load.

Mr Mescall pointed out that freshers college competitions are by and large for 18 and 19-year-olds and they are not allowed to play Sigerson Cup, or Fitzgibbon Cup competitions.

Castledaly also supported the motion. Eugene Costello said having a blanket ban is doing “a grave injustice” to U18 players.

Kevin Jordan (Southern Gaels), a former Coiste na nÓg secretary, said clubs need to be careful what they wish for. Minor board delegates always seemed keen to protect the U18 player, he felt, but there seems to be a disconnect between those delegates and the senior officers in clubs.

“Unless you decouple it, you are going to have a serious crossover between the underage fixtures and the adult fixtures. At the meeting at which this was passed (changing to U18), it was because they were going to be decoupled,” he remarked.

“You will affect 20-30 players if there are difficulties with the minor fixtures,” he opined, pointing out that U18 players will be stopped playing a minor match on a weekday if there is an adult game on at the weekend. The U18 game will be cancelled for an adult game in that scenario, he observed. He revealed that in former years, a young player just out of U17, played 35 adult hurling games with his club, including junior ‘B’ and intermediate. And that wasn’t counting football.

Officers raise concerns

Barry Kelly, Coiste na nÓg chairman, raised concerns with the proposed change. He referred to Conor Leech, a young dual county player with Na Piarsaigh and Killucan clubs. He would be faced with playing for Killucan minor footballers, Na Piarsaigh minor hurlers, Na Piarsaigh U20 hurlers, Killucan U20 hurlers. He would most likely be on the county U20 hurling squad, too.

He would also be eligible to play Division 5 and Division 3 adult football with Killucan, league hurling with Turin at adult level. When championship begins, he would be eligible for the Killucan senior panel, the Killucan junior football panel and the Turin intermediate side.

“I think that made up 10 teams; that’s just matches. He’s expected to train as well. We are a dual county: 52 players were picked by David Scahill and Ken Berry for the U14 football development squad; 26 of them are also on the county U14 hurling panel. So, like it or not, we are a pretty strong dual county,” he remarked.

Mr Kelly noted that Daire Smith, Conor Heffernan and Conor Leech, three of the best underage hurlers in the county, will play for Turin minors (U18) next year. They could play at adult level if the motion is successful, but Turin are prepared to play the long-term game and hope that players like this will get them to senior level in the next eight years, or so.

“That will not happen if they're playing for 10 teams next year and 10 different managers are pulling out of them. We will be asking here in a few years time at the tea break, whatever happened to Conor Leech, or Conor Heffernan, Jack Murtagh, Neil Pierson, or a couple more (dual players),” he remarked.

Mr Kelly also pointed out that minor (U18) fixtures are planned for Friday evenings in 2024, in order to facilitate county development squads. U14 and U16 games on a Friday are unfair on young players playing county football or hurling on the Saturday, often travelling long distances. In recent years, they played club football on a Friday and travelled to places like Wicklow or Carlow the following morning: two games in 16 hours. Parents expressed concerns, he said.

“To assuage those fears and to help out the games development and boost our county development squads, minor games will be played on a Friday evening. U12 will also take place, with U14 and U16 on Monday and Wednesday,” he said.

He felt playing minor (U18) on Friday and adult games on Saturday or Sunday will create complications for fixtures, if the motion is successful.

“If he plays the minor game, he can’t play the adult game for 48 hours, so that won’t happen. Managers tend to be pretty selfish individuals. They look after number one; number one for them is their team,” he said.

Mr Kelly dismissed suggestions that U18 players will not be properly catered for in terms of competitive games. An 18-year old in Westmeath next year will get 10 or 12 league and championship fixtures; if they make a final, or a shield final it will be 13 or 14 games. You can double that for dual players, he explained.

“I would think that’s not inconsiderable, especially if you add in challenge games. Every player is getting 13 or 14 games organised by the board. I don’t think there can be any complaints,” he added.

Keith Quinn, adult fixtures secretary, highlighted potential problems also, pointing out that Tuesday (junior ‘b’), Thursday (U19/U20) and Friday (U18) will be the designated evenings for games and there are a host of other adult competitions to consider. He called on club delegates to consider the welfare and safety of the U18 players who are not fully developed, physically.

“We are talking about player welfare here. On the Westmeath senior hurling panel, there are 15 injuries at present among dual players. They are adults from ages 19 - 24 or 25. We voted on this in February and now we are looking to change it. For what? To put on a younger player to play intermediate football when he is not fully developed,” he said.

“He might have the skill set, he definitely does not have the strength and conditioning. We all see the way football played at this moment. It’s about physicality. Some of the junior games this year were the best and toughest I have seen. Kilbeggan played the Leinster championship in Rochfortbridge: the hits in that game alone: you hit a 17 or 18-year-old (like that)… I think the delegates need to go back and have another hard look at this.”

Damien Keogh, Turin, said his club is against the motion, even though having U18s would benefit their adult teams. He called on clubs to continue with what was decided earlier in the year and said suggesting U18 players will not get enough games at their own grade is ludicrous.

Christy Keenan of Loughnavalley backed the motion. He said Loughnavalley need all young players in order to survive.

“If we haven’t got them, we will be gone again, anyway. We need them playing. We don’t have a minor team,” he said.

Mr Keenan suggested that very few clubs have the number of dual players playing the high number of games being referred to.

He suggested he could count those clubs on one hand, but Mr Mescall refuted this and urged the delegate to take the long-term view, complimenting Loughnavalley on their progress.

“If we don’t look at the short-term, we won’t have a long-term. It’s as simple as that,” declared Mr Keenan.