Knockout District matches could be part of Senior plan

IMAGINE, DEAR reader, the following scenario: Rathnure qualify for the knockout stages of the Pettitt’s Senior hurling championship in either third or fourth spot in their group. Instead of meeting team one or two from the other side of the draw in a quarter-final, they are pitted against one of the four Districts in a preliminary, winner-takes-all, round.

Consider the interest that might surround a clash in Bellefield between Rathnure and an Enniscorthy District side featuring, among others, current county Seniors Aidan Nolan (HWH-Bunclody), Harry Kehoe (Cloughbawn) and David Dunne (Davidstown-Courtnacuddy).

I’ve merely used the above as an example, but the possibilities are limitless: how about a Wexford District hurling team with Blackwater’s Darren Byrne and Pádraig Foley of Crossabeg-Ballymurn manning their central defensive spine taking on Shelmaliers?

There is no guarantee, of course, that a District side would be pitted against a club from their own region, but on the law of averages it would likely happen on a regular basis.

I’ve been a long-time advocate of bringing the Districts back into our Senior championships, and I believe it is coming up for discussion at official level so I’m throwing in my tuppence worth again.

Before I put forward my proposal on how it might work, the following points are worth noting: with the new Under-20 competitions countywide, all the Districts are left with to organise are the Junior ‘B’ championships. A project like this to get their teeth into would revitalise their general involvement in the local G.A.A. scene.

Secondly, 18 clubs are represented in our Senior championships. That leaves 31 more with either Intermediate or Junior teams only, so they hold the balance of voting power in any move to bring the Districts back for the first time since the mid-1980s.

Now to the nitty gritty of how the proposal might come together. Firstly, the only way to accommodate Districts at Senior level is to have them entering the championships at the knockout stage.

It would be impossible to have Districts playing group games, and anyone suggesting that clearly has no experience of fixtures.

I would continue with the two groups of six clubs playing five rounds and, as is the case at present, the two finishing in sixth spot would play-off for relegation to Intermediate, and the fifth-placed sides would preserve their status without making the knockout stage.

I would grant the two top teams and the two runners-up safe passage to the quarter-finals; again, no change from the norm.

However, the third- and fourth-placed teams (four in all) would draw one of the Districts in four straight preliminary round knockouts, with the winners advancing to the quarter-finals.

It would require two extra weeks to complete, one for hurling and one for football.

Any game involving a District would be played as late as possible on the Sunday evening of a given championship weekend, under floodlights if necessary.

Equally, club games involving a District player on that same weekend would ideally take place on the Friday night, but definitely no later than Saturday lunchtime, to provide as much time as possible between the two.

Critics might say this isn’t ideal, but it’s how in works in Cork where the strongest hurling division, Imokilly, is seeking a three-in-a-row of Senior hurling titles in 2019.

So, for example once more, Aidan Nolan’s HWH-Bunclody would play Intermediate championship on a Friday night if he had a Senior game with Enniscorthy District on the Sunday evening.

I think this plan would provide the best of both worlds: it would ensure every hurler and footballer has a chance to play Senior championship, while at the same time remaining loyal to his home club and continuing to represent them at Junior or Intermediate level.

I have been on various fixtures committees in the past, and there is a tendency for people in that position to immediately point out the reasons why something couldn’t work, rather than considering the situation from the other angle: if it’s for the common good, it should be incorporated into the system, and I believe that it most definitely is.

There’s still a good chance that some Districts might only get one knockout game per year, but what’s to lose from giving it a try?