Extra-time for knock-out

THERE were some last-minute jitters in terms of the new reality of extra-time being played in the event of a draw in all knock-out stages of championship matches in Wicklow at last Monday night’s County Board meeting in Ballinakill.

Bridget Kenny was speaking to delegates after Martin Fitzgerald sought a proposer and seconder for the new championship formats for 2018. Kenny reiterated that there would be extra-time and she wanted to be certain that delegates were fully aware of this reality before they voted for it.

Laragh GAA Club delegate Philip Bracken said that the changes hadn’t been accepted just yet and pointed out that a Kiltegan delegate at the other side of the room had a question to ask.

“I think someone has a question, so let’s wait and see,” said Bracken.

“How do you know he has a question?” Asked Martin Fitzgerald.

“He put his hand up,” replied the popular referee. “Excuse me Chairman, this is supposed to be democratic so I wouldn’t be smart about it. Let him ask his question”.

“Well, that was my question,” said Kiltegan’s John Byrne. “Philip Bracken is able to read my mind over there.

The Kiltegan man said that when a team gets to a quarter-final or a semi-final they should be entitled to a second day out.

“Where would we put them?” asked Bridget Kenny. “Play them on the Wednesday night,” replied the Kiltegan delegate.

“They would have to be Wednesday night,” said Martin Fitzgerald. “Does everyone realise that? And when we come into October do we have venues with lights for these games?”

County secretary Chris O’Connor reminded clubs that playing on a Wednesday night would mean that any players in college would have to travel down for the games.

There was no counter proposal so the new championship format of extra-time in the event of a draw in the knock-out stages of the championships was approved.