Proposals to change format of championships back on table

RADICAL new proposals to change the format of the club championships are back on the table for discussion prior to the start of the 2019 Meath club season.

Some of the proposals are similar to those put forward by the Competitions Review Committee in recent years. Three years ago a number of the proposals were passed but subsequently rejected by clubs after they were revisited at a later meeting.

Then 11 months ago clubs were given further time to consider whether to implement changes put forward jointly by the Dunboyne and St Brigid’s clubs.

However the proposals were firmly rejected at a special gathering two weeks later.

The latest proposals put forward to change the championship structures are contained in regulations which will be discussed and voted upon at the first county committee meeting in 2019.

If proposals to change the senior and intermediate football championships are passed then three teams from the senior championship will be relegated to intermediate ranks.

Teams that finish fifth and sixth in each of the three groups in the SFC will play one relegation match and the losers of the three games will be relegated.

There is also a proposal that there be no relegation from the IFC at the end of the 2019 season and that two teams (1st teams) be promoted from junior ranks to bring the grade up to 20 teams.

Second teams competing in the IFC would be regraded for 2020 to a new Premier A Club Football Championship.

All first team clubs competing in Junior B Football Championship 2019 shall be graded up to Junior Football Championship 2020, unless they apply to be regraded to the new Premier Club Football Competition.

There is also a proposal for a District Senior Football Championship from 2020 on. It shall contain at least eight independent teams from clubs in the intermediate and junior championships and will commence after the intermediate and junior finals are completed.

It is also proposed that the Feis Cup, Corn na Boinne and Tailteann Cup competitions are played as a preseason competition in groups of four or less.

The Dunshaughlin club are proposing that the home team shall provide three balls for all home games in League, Feis Cup, Corn na Bóinne, Tailteann Cup and Brendan Davis Cup matches.

In all other games each team shall provide at least one ball. The County Committee shall supply same in championship finals. The ball shall be presented to the captain of the winning team.

Eight club officials shall be admitted to the sideline where their club is engaged in Championship, League, Feis Cup, Corn na Bóinne, Tailteann Cup and Brendan Davis Cup matches.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne are proposing that the rate for referees expenses shall be reviewed by the Meath CCC and Meath finance committee each year and that the proposals be forwarded to management and ratified by the county committee at the start of each year.

The Meath squad and their management team that won the Leinster MFC in 2018 at their presentation night in Navan O’Mahonys. Back row, from left, Adam Treanor, Killian Hogan, Brian McCormack, Darragh Swaine, Adam Barrett, Sean Brennan, Joseph Moore, Cian McBride, Niall Bennett, David Carr, Brian O’Hanlon; Centre: Sean Coffey, Oisin McCloskey, David Bell, Killian Price, Luke Mitchell, Sean Martyn, Cillian Hegarty, Eoin Griffin, Colin Hawdon, Conor Harford, Luke Newe, Conor Farrelly, Cathal Hickey, Harry O’Higgins; Front: Paul Murphy (Selector), Luke Kelly, Adam Barrett, James O’Hare, Owen Ganly (Selector), Joe Treanor (Manager), Matthew Costello (Capt), Paddy Gilsenan (Selector), Conor Hetherton, Adam Kelly, Jack Dardis and Paul Nestor (Selector).

The St Patricik’s team who were pipped by neighbours St Colmcille’s in the Meath Under-13 Division 1 Final. The Stamullen girls also came second to Foxrock/Cabinteely in the recent St Patrick’s Under-13 LGFA Football Blitz.

Seneschalstown’s Cathal Hickey receives his Leinster MFC medal from senior manager Andy McEntee at the underage presentation night in Navan O’Mahonys.

St Patrick’s duo Robyn O’Byrne and Tori Foster Carroll have earned Meath call-ups.