A meeting of Coiste Contae CLG Loch Garman was held in the Riverside Park Hotel (Enniscorthy) on Thursday January 23rd, the main purpose of which was to consider motions submitted for the running of this year’s County Leagues and Championships.
In the most significant news of the evening, there will be no change to the structure of this year’s County Hurling Championships from Senior to Junior ‘A’ level. The structure first put forward by the Hurling Advisory Committee for the 2024 Championships will remain in place – i.e. all six teams will go through following the conclusion of the group stage, with the top two progressing directly to quarter-finals, and the remaining teams playing in preliminary quarter-finals.
Adrian Fenlon of the Hurling Advisory Committee spoke in favour of retaining the status quo, while Cathaoirleach John Kenny said that Coiste Bainistí were also in favour of retaining it.
A number of club motions to change the structure were nevertheless debated and considered, but all were defeated.
Key decisions taken on other matters include:
- A Taghmon-Camross motion to return to the ‘split season’ of hurling championships first, followed by football championships, was defeated.
- Round 5 group games in the Junior & Junior ‘A’ Championships in both hurling & football are to be played at neutral venues, rather than one of the clubs having home advantage.
- A change was agreed to the operation of the ‘mini-league’ rule in the event of a three-way tie in league or championship group tables.
A Buffers Alley proposal to split the existing Junior ‘B’ Hurling Championship into separate Junior ‘B’ & Junior ‘C’ Championships was deferred to the next Coiste Contae meeting.
Details of all motions that passed follow below:
From St. Brigid’s Blackwater GAA Club.
With regards to the first round of the U21 championships in Premier/Division 1, when a walkover occurs, that the team who receives a walkover (the weaker team in seeding), should, subject to county board/competitions control authority approval, be allowed to request to be placed in a lower division (i.e, Premier to Division 1). This is to benefit the weaker team that received the walkover. Currently the first round is seeded between the 8 stronger teams and 8 weaker teams. In most cases, if the game would be played the weaker team would lose and would have been expected to play in Division 1. Due to the fact currently when you give a walkover in the U21 championships, you withdraw from the championship so there is a place available in both Premier and Division 1.
From Horeswood GAA Club.
When three or more teams finish on equal points in the league section of the Championship and a “mini league” is formed and when the teams are tied after the existing first deciding factor, i.e. the number of league points earned from the games between the teams involved does not resolve the teams’ positions, score differences in the “mini league” should be the next deciding factor. If the teams still can’t be separated overall scoring differences should be the next deciding factor.
From CCC Loch Garman.
- For Junior and Junior A Championship the CCC recommend that the 5th game in the Championship be played at a neutral venue and that all Clubs be required to make venues available to facilitate same.
- For First and Second Rounds of Junior B League Championship, no walkover fee will apply where 3 days notice in advance of the proposed fixture is given. A fine of €100 will apply in respect of any walkover given in the first and second round of the Junior B League Championship where less than 3 days notice is given. Any walkover in subsequent rounds will incur a fine of €200.
- In the Junior B League Championship, in the event of one team having only 13 or 14 players, both Clubs must play the lower number of players available. In the event of both Clubs having a minimum of 15 players, normal rules apply.
- For Junior B League Championship, unlimited substitutes will be permitted. For knockout stages, normal Championship substitution rules apply.
From Oulart-The Ballagh GAA Club. Put forward as a recommendation to CCC.
All County Adult Football and Hurling Leagues. That the first round of the ACHL not be played until weekend 4th/5th/6th April. 2 or 3 rounds of football be played before hurling is played. Ideally this will allow for pitches and weather conditions to improve before the first hurling round.
Tara Rocks/Kilanerin-Ballyfad
In other business, the meeting heard an application from Tara Rocks and Kilanerin-Ballyfad GAA clubs for a three-year extension to the hurling/football arrangement between the clubs. Speakers from both clubs put forward the reasons why they wish the arrangement to continue.
Some delegates from other clubs wondered if there is a longer-term plan, either for the clubs to field separately in due course, or else to formally amalgamate on a permanent basis. Others spoke in favour of allowing the arrangement to continue.
Cathaoirleach John Kenny told how a demographics study of the area is be conducted in the coming months. He stated his support for the clubs’ application, and added the suggestion that representatives of both clubs should report to Coiste Contae each September on any relevant updates and progress made. This was agreed by the meeting.
Quid Games
In relation to the upcoming ‘Quid Games’ fundraiser for the Halo Tiles Centre of Excellence, being held under the MOA with the Camogie Association and LGFA, it was clarified that this is Year 2 of a three-year commitment to hold an annual fundraiser. Another fundraiser will be held in 2026.