GAA chiefs to reconsider U-21 club restriction on U-17s

A CENTRAL COUNCIL rule interpretation prohibiting club U-17s from playing at U-21 level looks set to be reversed, just days after it was delivered in the immediate aftermath of Congress.

The matter has been a point of discussion for weeks but came to a head on Saturday in Wexford when Central Council met straight after Congress had ended and decided that players in their 17th year could not feature for their club U-21 sides.

Clare and Tipperary are among the counties who had already either started or made the draws for forthcoming U-21 championships but have been thrown into disarray by the interpretation.

However, Central Council may have interpreted the rulebook incorrectly at last weekend’s meeting and is now looking at ways to resolve it with delegates consulted yesterday as to whether they are satisfied with their initial outcome. Further dialogue with counties currently affected is expected today.

Under rule 6.17 of the Official Guide which covers age grades, U-21 is considered an underage grade, not an adult grade – which precludes U-17s. A span of five years is allowed for the U-21 grade which would clearly cover U-21, U-20, U-19, U-18 and U-17 players. That can only change with a Congress motion.

The rule differs at inter-county where players at U-21 hurling (now changing to U-20) and U-20 football must be 17 prior to January of that year. A motion to last year’s Congress gave counties the freedom to determine underage grades for club competitions from U-21 down to U-11 and provided for the spans allowed in each age group.

The five-year span for the U-21 grade was retained. At U-20 club level, down to U-13/14, a four-year span applies.

Clare clubs were due to meet last night to reassess gradings for their U-21 competition with the threat of some having to field 13-a-side teams because of pressure on numbers due to last weekend’s interpretation.

Some clubs may have to merge or withdraw if Saturday’s ruling sticks.