Change to planned format

SEVEN teams will contest the Intermediate hurling championship in 2017 with Bray Emmets not taking part and Avondale entering the fray after making the drop from Senior.

The teams in this year’s IHC are: Avondale, Arklow Rock Parnells, Carnew Emmets, Glenealy, Kilcoole, Kiltegan, St Pat’s.

The CCC proposed the competition to be on a league basis with the top four teams into the semi-final.

But Arklow Rocks club man and CCC member Tom Byrne objected and said that there should be quarter-finals.

“Quarter-finals in every grade of football but we don’t have it for hurling,” he said.

“Yeah, but Tom, we have seven teams. I’m only putting this out there. If you win one match you’re in the quarter-final,” said Martin Fitzgerald. “You’re playing meaningless matches.

“If you do that and say Carnew lose their first three games in Intermediate and we have one or two middling lads on the Junior team, we’re not even going to play them lads in the last few league games, we’re going to keep them for Junior hurling,” said Carnew Emmets delegate Thomas Collins.

“You’re going to second Tom’s proposal then?” asked Martin Fitzgerald.

Thomas Collins confirmed that he was.

No seconder could be found for the CCC’s proposal so the championship will have quarter-finals.

“On the dates we have down for championship there are no quarter-finals down so there’s a possibility you could be playing football and hurling on the one weekend. At the moment you won’t be but if there are quarter-finals you will be. I’ve no problem as long as you’re prepared to accept that. If fixtures go out, we’re sticking,” said Bridget Kennny.

“Is everyone aware that you could be playing hurling and football on the Friday and Sunday. There’s only so many weekends in the year,” said Martin Fitzgerald.

The format: Top two into semi-finals, team three, four, five, and six play off quarter-finals, team 7 eliminated.