Trio of new Drogheda clubs in mix

THE number of Drogheda clubs in the North East Football League is set to increase significantly after Grove Rangers, Moneymore and Thatch FC all expressed an interest in joining the league for 2017/18.

In all, 44 clubs were represented at last week’s NEFL agm in Navan’s Ardboyne Hotel, with four from Drogheda among the nine absentees, and a large number of motions were debated and voted on.

One that was proposed by Duleek, and carried by a large majority, was that the number of first-team players that can be selected by a reserve team at any given time be reduced from five to three. However, Duleek’s motion to abolish the current two-thirds majority system in favour of ‘Majority Plus 4’ didn’t win sufficient support as 25 voted yes and 22 no.

One proposal from the NEFL Committee which received unanimous approval was that a player who receives a suspension arising from four yellow cards can have that ban postponed if it will impact on a Cup/Shield final or a league play-off.

Another suggestion from the Committee which was also passed unanimously was that the maximum number of players named on a referee’s card before a match be increased from 16 to 18, with five substitutions now allowed instead of three.

New members of the League committee elected were Mark McGuinness (OMP), Damien Clarke (Navan Town) and Steve Laverty (Kentstown Rovers). •The NEFL Presentation Night will take place on Friday June 23rd in the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan. Tickets (€15) must be prebooked and paid for by the 16th.