Something has to be done

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.