Open draw chosen
Seeded option fails in SHC vote
‘WE have two options in the Senior hurling championship,’ said Paul Wilson at last Wednesday evening’s County Board meeting in Ballinakill.
‘Option one is two groups – four in one and three in the other. It’s an open draw so there are no seedings and the top two from each group qualify for semi-finals.
‘Option two is for the four semi-finalists from 2019 would be seeded and they’d go into Pot 1 and the three remaining teams would go into Pot 2.
‘The top two from each group qualify for semi-finals.
‘A vote was called to decide which option to take but at least one vote wasn’t cast as the result came back even at 19 apiece. Paul Wilson put the vote up a second time and 21 clubs went for an open draw with 18 choosing the seeded option.
‘The hurling will be an open draw of seven teams, four in one and three in the other,’ declared Paul Wilson. Fintan Fanning and county Chairman Martin Fitzgerald along with Paul Wilson manned the draw.
Lightning Protection Ireland SHC
Group 1: Éire Óg, Avondale, Glenealy, Bray Emmets
Group 2: Carnew Emmets, St. Patrick’s, Kiltegan
There was a momentary sizzle of excitement when Bray Emmets were drawn in Group 2 along with St. Pat’s, Kiltegan and Carnew
Emmets meaning that one of the perceived big guns would be exiting the championship prior to the semi-finals.
However, County Chairman Martin Fitzgerald pointed out that they had, in fact, been drawn in Group 1 which was bad news for Éire Óg and Avondale but good news for both Carnew and St. Patrick’s.
All known form would suggest a semi-final quartet of Glenealy, Bray Emmets, St. Patrick’s and Carnew Emmets so it’s up to Éire Óg, Avondale and Kiltegan to cause an upset.
Later in the meeting, Paul Wilson explained that the semi-finalists would be arranged by way of the winner of one playing the second-placed team in the other.