Something has to be done ‘Referees are unbelievably scarce’
THE subject of underage hurling in west Wicklow came up for discussion at last Monday evening’s County Board meeting in Ballinakill.
Wicklow County Chairman Martin Fitzgerald informed delegates that concerns had been raised by people within wicklow GAA regarding the amount of underage players now playing hurling with Michael Dwyers given that Michael Dwyers are now attracting hurlers from as far away as Blessington.
‘There’s a lot of concern about one particular team, Michael Dwyers,’ began Martin Fitzgerald, ‘The numbers from under 11 downards are just unbelievable, there’s enough for three or four teams.
‘We will have to meet with the clubs of west Wicklow in the next few weeks or months and sort out for next year what we will have to do.
‘And we may start from under 11s downards, because it’s just unbelievable at the moment. If you have 20 under 11s joining up from Blessington, there’s a lot of kid not getting hurling. Something will have to be done.
‘We’re just letting the clubs of west Wicklow know that we are going to be meeting all the clubs in west Wicklow and we are going to be drawing a line in west Wicklow and having two teams for a start, maybe more afterwards.
‘It’s great to see the amount of interest from kids wanting to play hurling in west Wicklow, but we’re going to have to do something about it,’ he added.
‘The amount of players playing hurling over there at the moment is unbelievable. For example, at under-12 Go Games two years ago, Western Gaels won the ‘A’ section, Michael Dwyers won the ‘B’ section. The following year they were together in that section and there were 18 players so there was a big loss. There’ll be a fall off at that age group anyway, but we are not doing our job in the county if that’s happening,’ he said. ‘AT the moment, referees are unbelievably scarce,’ were the words Wicklow County Chairman used to begin the appeal to clubs in Wicklow to send forward candidates to become referees in the county.
Martin Fitzgerald lamented the fact that at the present time outside referees were being widely used the county because native officials cannot be found after the stepping away of numerous high profile and talented referees such as Ciaran Manley and Matt Dowling to name just two.
‘We just can’t get referees,’ said Fitzgerald, who added that officials for underage games are not too bad in terms of availability but that at Senior level it is now a major problem.
‘We have to appeal to the clubs. At the moment, we are bringing in referees from all over the country, all over neighbouring counties. We just have to get the appeal out to clubs. It’s not an easy task to referee, but we will have no games, we will have games called off, at juvenile level at the moment that’s what’s happening all over the place.
‘We have to appeal to the clubs to ask ex-players to come in, lads who are finishing up in their careers or even lads who are still playing,’ he added.
There was also an appeal for more match stewards from the top table at the County Board meeting in Ballinakill on Monday night.
Wicklow county secretary Chris O’Connor expressed the County Board’s gratitude to the match stewards who worked so hard at the recent qualifier clash with Cavan in Joule Park Aughrim before adding that more stewards were needed for the club championship.
‘‘We want to thank you for your time and to say that it was very much appreciated,’ said Chris O’Connor to match stewards.