WICKLOW LADIES MAKE IT 6 OUT OF 6

WICKLOW GAA appears to be on the cusp of a major problem with the folding of an adult football team, the calling of an EGM in a club fighting for survival, and teams fielding without 15 players in the past few days.

For the first time in 13 years, Fergal Ógs will not be fielding a team in Wicklow GAA this season.

The Bray-based club made the reluctant decision due to waning squad numbers.

Having started pre-season training on Tuesday, January 9, the club were yet to have more than 12 members at any one session - often having to cancel with only four or five players present.

With the deadline for club transfers already passed, a letter was sent by the club to Wicklow GAA to plead with them to allow their former members to find new clubs.

Many formerly reliable club members have in recent times taken jobs that requires shift work or become fathers and for those reasons, they could not commit.

The club estimate that they have lost nine players since 2017.

With no minor team in place, they have nowhere else from which to source players hence their decision to withdraw for the 2018 season.

It is a body blow to Wicklow GAA. Other worrying news for Wicklow this weekend was both Donard and Knockanana reportedly had to field with just 14 men, while Coolboy awarded Kilcoole a walkover on Sunday and subsequently called an EGM via social media to discuss their future.

‘On behalf of Coolboy GAA Club, we hereby give notice of our intention to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) for all fully paid and registered players and members to be held this Thursday, March 29, at 8pm in Coolafancy Hall,” said the club.

‘The purpose of this meeting is to consider the future of our GAA club,” they added.

Meanwhile, Lacken and Kilbride also had to wave the white flag and amalgamate to survive recently.