Bulletin following Management Committee Meeting on 17 January 2022.
League & Championship Proposals 2022
Coiste Bainistí reviewed the proposals received from the Fixtures Review Group and from Clubs. The number responses from Clubs and stakeholders demonstrates a high level of engagement across the county in ensuring that we have appropriate structures in place for 2022. The key areas discussed were:
- Provision of a championship for U19 and/or U21 teams to provide games for this age grade due player dropout.
- League structures
- Championship structures
- Championship calendar
- Junior B
- Grading
A webinar will be held on Thursday, 20 January 2022 with Chairpersons, Secretaries and County Committee Reps to go through the various proposals. Following this webinar, Clubs will be asked to discuss the proposals within their own clubs and to rank their preference for the format and calendar for leagues and championships for 2022 via an online form completed by the Club Secretary.
There will be a County Committee meeting on 1 February 2022 to ratify the preferred format and calendar.
Kilanerin / Tara Rocks Arrangement
Kilanerin-Ballyfad and Tara Rocks GAA Clubs presented to Coiste Bainistí on their existing arrangement and requested that it be extended for a further five years. They have requested that the current arrangement be extended for a further five years in line with the five-year strategic plan that they are working to finalise.
It was agreed by Coiste Bainistí to recommend to County Committee that the current arrangement be extended for a further three years. It was also agreed that the Demographics Taskforce would be requested to review specifically the Gorey Town area and revert with recommendations to ensure the long-term survival of Tara Rocks GAA Club.
In addition, Coiste Bainistí have moved the deadline for transfers within the county to Friday, 4 February 2022 at 5pm to facilitate transfers between both clubs for 2022 should the County Committee agree to extend this arrangement at the meeting on 1 February 2022.
All-Ireland Football Championship Proposals
The Red and Green proposals in respect of the All-Ireland Football Championship were discussed. It was agreed to support the Green Proposal at the forthcoming Ard Chomhairle meeting on 22 January 2022 due to the timing of the Tailteann Cup Final and the reduced impact on club fixtures as a result.
Referees
There are 18 new recruits that are due to complete Module 3 of the Foundation Referee Course in February. Coiste Bainistí agreed that the recruitment of referees was a priority for the smooth running of our games programme. It was agreed that every club would be required to have an active referee as had been previously communicated in 2021. It was also agreed to continue to work with the incoming Referee Committee to incentivise new referees.
It was proposed that the penalty for clubs who do not have an active referee be as follows:
- 2022: Club would lose home advantage for the first game of every team from Under 13 to Adult and pay an additional €200 to referee training fund.
- 2023: Club would lose home advantage for the first two games of every team from Under 13 to Adult and pay an additional €500 to referee training fund.
Chadwicks Wexford Park Upgrade Plan
It was agreed that the pitch in Chadwicks Wexford Park will be closed from 9 May 2022 until 3 July 2022 to facilitate the planned upgrade works to the pitch and the installation of the new irrigation system.
Wexford GAA Urban Report Update
Micheál Martin, Cathaoirleach CLG Loch Garman, advised that he had requested that Kevin Doyle, Planning & Training Officer, would review the Wexford Town Urban Report produced in 2019 by a group headed by Past GAA President, Liam O’Neill. It was noted that this report was issued to clubs in December 2019 and responses were requested but only one response was received. The report issued ten recommendations and noted that “The potential for growth in participation within Wexford Town is great should all stakeholders adopt a united approach.”
Over the last twenty years, concern has been expressed at County Committee level about the lack of participation in the four main towns. The introduction of the GPO scheme has had a positive impact and the on-going work of the Demographics Taskforce will be important in informing policy for urban and growing suburban areas.
Correspondence received from some of these clubs who are currently in a position to field a second team at each age grade was referred to Coiste na nÓg to consider and Micheál Martin noted that the original criteria for applying for a GPO should be considered in line with these requests.
Upcoming Dates
20 January 2022 Online presentation of and Q&A on fixtures proposals
23 January 2022 Glen Fuels Cairde Loch Garman Club Player of the Year Awards
30 January 2022 Deadline for submission of online vote in respect of proposals
1 February 2022 County Board Meeting (online unless restrictions change)
4 February 2022 Transfer Request Deadline & Isolated Player Applications