Resounding ‘no’ to championship changes

PROPOSED changes to the structures of the Meath football championships were firmly rejected by delegates at last Tuesday night’s special meeting in Dunganny.

The St Peter’s Dunboyne and St Brigid’s clubs had sought to radically alter the various championships, including the number of teams in each grade as well as the introduction of a new District Championship, but these proposals were lost decisively following a show of hands.

A separate regulation from the Meath CCC which also sought to reduce the number of teams in both the senior and intermediate grades to 16 was also lost after a separate vote took place.

Before a vote took place, delegates from Nobber, Carnaross, Summerhill and Duleek-Bellewstown spoke against the changes put forward by Dunboyne and St Brigid’s.

At the start of the meeting chairman Peter O’Halloran sought a proposal to have decisions made at the meeting binding. However, he was informed by former secretary Francis Flynn that this would be out of order.

Clarification was sought about making amendments on the night and following a show of hands it was decided that the only option was to accept or reject the relegation as proposed jointly by Dunboyne and St Brigid’s.

The only change that was ratified was in relation to championship finals in the county and extra time will now be played in any final that ends in a stalemate during 2018.

The championship draws will take place at the March county committee meeting.