Barndarrig regrading motion withdrawn

BARNDARRIG’S attempt to prevent Senior and Intermediate players playing Junior hurling championship proved unsuccessful at the recent County Board meeting in Ballinakill due to County Chairman explaining that the issue was already covered under rule.

The Motion stated: ‘A player from a club with Intermediate and Senior hurling who has played in a higher grade in that year or who was not regraded from the previous year is not eligible to play in the Junior hurling championship’.

“That’s covered by rule, under 6.2EO 2017,” said Martin Fitzgerald.

“As we understand it, there’s the whole issue about the quarter-finals, where Senior players can play (in Junior) up to the quarter-final of the Senior championship. A situation arose this year where one team didn’t play in the quarter-final, so what we want to do is to copper fasten the previous motion by saying that the Junior championship is only for Junior players,” said Tom Doyle.

Wicklow county secretary Chris O’Connor sought clarification as to whether it was the status of a player in the year that Barndarrig were talking about.

“There’s five regradings in hurling,” said Martin Fitzgerald. “Those five are the only ones who can play,” he added.

“In a Junior championship?” asked Barndarrig.

“Yes,” replied the County Chairman. “Anyone else has played the Senior that year before it or the year after cannot play,” he added.

“And this is enforced by an honour code through the clubs. In other words, clubs are just depending on being honest about it and playing only regraded players,” said the Barndarrig delegate.

“If you’re regraded, you’re regraded,” said Chris O’Connor.

“I’m just saying, is it being enforced?” said Tom Doyle.

“It is,” said Martin Fitzgerald. “Through the Chair,” said Carnew’s James Doran, “are you saying there were Senior players played in the Junior (championship) last year illegally?

“No, I didn’t say that at all,” replied Tom Doyle. “I only want clarification. Is it quarter-final of the Senior. If you play in the quarter-final of the Senior, are you then ineligible to play?”

“No, any player who has played Senior the year before who wasn’t regraded cannot play Junior or Intermediate, at all. And that’s the way it has been for years. And that’s covered by rule. So, we’ll ask you to withdraw that,” said Martin Fitzgerald. Barndarrig withdrew the motion. A discussion followed where clarification was sought in relation to if a player doesn’t play championship for one year, does he need to be regraded.

“That’s gone since 2016,” said Chris O’Connor. “You have to be regraded. I had to get clarification for a club; a Senior player who played Senior championship in 2013/2014 and he hasn’t played since, he still had to be regraded. So, if anyone needs to check a player you need to let me know because it goes to rules advisory,” she added.

“Standing down players for a year doesn’t work anymore. It used to work. Not anymore,” said Martin Fitzgerald.