Kilmac sought fixture change Three meetings in July on Wicklow’s future
CCC have since ruled against
A lengthy and passionate discussion took place at the recent County Board meeting in Ballinakill when Kilmacanogue sought to have their IFC clash with Rathnew, scheduled to be played last Friday night in Ashford, postponed until after Rathnew played their opening round of the Renault Senior Football Championship.
Mick Hagan informed the meeting of the situation and declared that the CCC would be recommending that the game go ahead as fixed.
Kilmacanogue GAA delegate Peadar Smyth questioned the decision of the CCC to recommend that the IFC fixture be played ahead of Rathnew starting their Senior campaign.
“From what I can see this is going to affect every single Junior club in this room if we go ahead and play this game. The precedent will have been set. I think that until such a time that this whole set up changes as regards reserve leagues and championships we’re going have this conversation year in year out. Every other county has two or three rounds of the Junior ‘A’ championship out of the way, we’re struggling to get games going.
“I think it’s a wrong decision and I would question why the Intermediate championship is being treated separate to the Junior championship.
“I know there’s no rule but it has been accommodated for in the fact that all the Junior championship all the Senior clubs have been grouped on one side and all the Junior clubs on the other side so why is the Intermediate being treated any different.
“We’ve had this before, we took a case before, we went to Leinster Council, the DRA sent it back, it was over a hurling matter, the DRA sent it back to the County Board for the game to be refixed.
“Now, we can go down this route and hold up all the Intermediate championship in this county and that’s going to do nobody any good,” he said.
“But sure when games are fixed they won’t be played, Peadar. You’re saying other unties have played two and three rounds but when we fix games they find excuses not to play them,” said Martin Coleman.
“I’m not looking for excuses not to play them, Martin,” said Peadar.
“Well anyway, it’s a CCC matter, Peadar,” said Coleman.
“So the game goes ahead no matter what?” asked Peadar.
“It’s the CCC’s decision, you know what your alternatives are,” replied the County Chairman.
“Ok, so on a point of clarification regarding Junior hurling. I just want clarification on the fact that if a Senior club has five regrades, is it true that their status is not affected until the semi-finals of a Senior championship?” asked Peadar.
The Kilmacanogue delegate was informed that it was until the quarter-final stage.
“So, in other words, a Senior hurler can play both grades of championship up to the quarter-final?”
There was some confusion for a few seconds with the indication being that the Kilmacanogue delegate was correct.
“Well, that’s actually illegal,” stated Peadar Smyth.
“Through the chair,” said Mick Hagan, “Didn’t we apply to Leinster Council?”
Chris O’Connor informed the delegates that Wicklow had applied to Leinster Council and that Leinster Council had granted it and that she could inform the clubs of the date of the Leinster Council meeting and that it was early in the year.
“Well it’s actually illegal to be able to play, listen, the decisions that were made in regards hurling nearly destroyed us (Kilmac-Enniskerry) last year. Only for Fergal Ógs coming on board. It seems to be the case to squash out any smaller clubs that are struggling to get on. Those decision were made purely to help the Senior cubs. It’s destroying (smaller clubs),” said Peadar.
“So a Senior hurler can play Junior, he can play Senior, and he can come back and play Junior championship, is that what you’re saying?”
“Peadar, this was all discussed at a meeting with the hurling clubs where they decided what they wanted. That’s what they decided,” said Martin Coleman.
Tom Byrne said that a Senior hurler can play Junior ‘B’ and if his team plays in the Senior knock-out stages he can’t come back and play. Championship in Junior starts when the league is over.
“This is not set up for the smaller club. I cannot understand for the life of me, and I don’t know how I’m going to go back and explain this to our club, why Intermediate must go ahead before Senior championship. This is the only club in this county who will be playing championship before the Senior club plays theirs. Why? Give us a fair answer and I’ll go back and explain it.
A member of the CCC told Peadar that it was the “luck of the draw”.
Peadar said, “it was the luck of the draw?”
Rathnew GAA Chairman Bobby Dignam said that he had told Kilmac at the last meeting that Rathnew would not play any Senior players in the IFC game. He said that he had given his word.
Peadar Smyth came back in to the discussion to adamantly clarify that he wasn’t questioning any club or the word of any club delegate and that he was questioning a structure that allowed this situation develop.
“Can we get one thing straight? I’m talking about a structure here. I’m not questioning honour or that any man has to give his word. Like, that’s the ‘nod and the wink’ we’re talking about here. That’s not acceptable, lads. We’re going to have this conversation year in year out.
“I approached a couple of the Senior clubs after last year to see if we can come up with an agreement, a plan ourselves. None of them wanted to know. With all due respect to the Rathnew delegate, I’m not questioning Rathnew or anybody else. The structure that’s in place should not be ran as a ‘nod and a wink’. We haven’t addressed it, we haven’t fixed it. And the biggest problem is we don’t have the appetite to fix it,” said the Kilmacanogue delegate.
“Peadar,” said Martin Coleman, “the clubs are here to discuss the regulations and to discuss the way they want their competitions played. That is taken at the first County Board meeting of the year. The clubs decided the way they wanted to play and how they were going to play. And that’s what we’re going to do. And yous are the ruling body in this county,” he added.
“Ok, sorry, hang on, Mr. Chairman, we didn’t decide that first day the clubs who played championship will play before Senior championship was played. Nobody made that decision at the start of the year,” said Peadar Smith.
“But you weren’t told they wouldn’t either,” said Martin Coleman.
“No, but sure why would you have to do it now?” asked the Kilmac delegate. “It’s nothing to do with Rathnew, do yous understand that. This is where we are and these are the arguments we’re having and there’s no appetite for to change this or to look at this and have a structure,” he added.
“Unfortunately, Peadar, it’s last February you should have been having this argument,” said Martin Coleman.
“I have this argument every year, Mr. Chairman. Every single year and we’re no further on,” said Peadar. “There’s no point talking about it in June.
“Everybody has a right to talk, everybody has a right to be listened to, but the majority rules at the end of the day and you’re the ruling body,” said Martin Coleman.
“So, in other words, we were unlucky to get this draw and that’s the rule”.
Martin Coleman said that it was down to the CCC.
On Monday, Rathnew were awarded a walkover by the Wicklow GAA CCC. A total of three meetings will be held in early July in relation to the future development of Wicklow GAA with former Dublin Senior football manager Pat Gilroy chairing the meetings.
The committee has been formed in the wake of the motion put forward by the Stratford-Grangecon who sought the creation of an ‘over-arching committee’ to oversee the workings of Wicklow GAA.
Wicklow secretary Chris O’Connor detailed when the meetings would be taking place at the recent County Board meeting in Ballinakill.
“There are three meetings taking place. The one with the clubs is July 11, it’s in Tulfarris. Pat Gilroy and his committee will be conducting the meeting. Hopefully by Wednesday or Thursday we can tell you (who from the clubs are to attend the meeting) but definitely chairpersons and secretaries.
“They’re also holding a meeting on July 3 for past and present players. Now, they’re contacting the past players and we have contacted the present ones.
“And then on July 10, there will be a special meeting with councilors and teachers and people from within the county so the club meeting is the final meeting that we are aware of at the moment.
Martin Coleman said that it is important any people who are invited to the meeting attend as he said that this is a review of the county that has been requested.
“The top people in the country are on this committee so it’s vitally important that we give the committee the respect that they deserve so I would appeal to all club chairman and secretaries and whoever else is invited to attend these meetings. If we are going to bring the county forward in any direction, it’s important that you attend,” he said.
Avondale’s Victor O’Shaughnessy asked if anyone who wished to attend could they turn up.
Chris O’Connor replied that the committee were deciding who should attend the meeting and not the Wicklow County Board.