Smaller clubs demand compromise on age rule

There were tetchy exchanges at Wednesday’s County Committee meeting in the Mullingar Park Hotel as clubs tried to force through a major change to allow U18 players play adult football and hurling.

Ultimately it lost on a 43-16 vote, but the proposed compromise from Bunbrosna delegate JP Reynolds that clubs with just one adult team be allowed to use U18 players at adult level caused consternation. Westmeath voted to accept decoupling (U18s cannot play at adult level) last year, but Mr Reynolds won the support of Milltownpass delegate Shane Donoghue, who felt small clubs needed to be facilitated by the change.

The Bunbrosna delegate insisted Cork could manage such a scenario and felt it would ease pressure on the weaker clubs, but the majority voted against any change to the current set-up.

Mullingar Shamrocks delegate Tom Hunt felt Westmeath should give the matter consideration for next year.

“It’s a very big decision; a huge decision to make here and now, but clubs are under pressure and we cannot let them expire. But we do have to look at player burnout, etc,” he said.

However, this was rejected by Chairman Frank Mescall, who was in no mood to row back on a decision already taken by Westmeath on the contentious issue. He insisted next year could take care of itself, but the issue is very likely to crop up again for the next chairman to deal with as Mr Mescall’s five-year term will be over at this year’s convention.

It was pointed out by Westmeath Head of Operations Patrick Doherty that it would be almost impossible to run a fixtures programme if the proposed change came to pass. He pointed out that adult managers would stop minor players playing their U18 games on a Friday if they could play adult games at the weekend - as happened in the past - thereby leading to potential postponements and delays in underage fixtures.

“It impacts on the minor board and the adult CCC (Competitions Control Committee); if we get into a situation where U18 players are playing adult games it makes fixture making impossible,” he cautioned.

In an exchange with Louth Lene Gaels delegate Martin Williams, Keith Quinn, CCC secretary, labelled the proposed change utter madness and insisted U18 players would be tortured. With potential disorder looming, the chairman called for proper decorum to be observed and the proposal was then put to a vote.

It was the only matter on the planning report to be voted on and the issue that again generated most debate.

Shane Donoghue initially sought clarity as to whether it was a by-law or a regulation and was informed the latter applied. Loughnavalley’s Christy Keenan said it is “milling” clubs and explained his club is losing a player to soccer as he cannot play at adult level. “It’s not a fair system,” he declared.

Mr Donoghue said his club, with no U20 team and would lose U18 players. The chairman pointed out it’s for one year only and encouraged clubs to embrace the independent team concept (amalgamations) to ensure their U18 players get sufficient games.

Mr Donoghue called on Westmeath GAA to charge U18 players juvenile rates at the gate when attending games. “If we are going to treat adults as juveniles in Westmeath, we should do the same when we are setting rates at the gate,” he declared.

The chairman said this is a completely different argument.

Mr Donoghue insisted maintaining small pools of players is vital for smaller clubs, but the chairman reminded him that his own club (Ballynacargy) is smaller than Milltownpass and even combined with Bunbrosna, they may be unable to field which is a challenge.

Mr Donoghue said Milltownpass are under pressure and insisted young players will leave the game if they cannot get games. The challenge is about maintaining the players they have on their roster, he said.

“It is not a headache for bigger clubs, but for smaller clubs is a real problem,” he added.

Rather than looking at independent teams, Mr Donoghue said the club is looking to the county board for help.

Kevin Jordan (Southern Gaels), a former Coiste na nÓg CCC secretary, pointed out the challenges for underage fixtures and said with so many group teams nowadays, it creates serious issues. Nollaig McEntegart (St Brigid’s) felt it would be unfair to have it in place for just clubs with one adult team, while Conleth McCormack (St Oliver Plunkett’s) also felt it would be unworkable.

However, Dermot Broughan (Cullion) supported the move.

Following the vote, Shane Donoghue complimented the Bunbrosna delegate on what he called an “astute” proposal and said he accepted the democratic decision.