Changes proposed for club football championships

Club delegates at tomorrow night's Meath GAA Co Board meeting at Dunganny will discussl proposals to change the format of the club football championships over the next three years.

The proposal to change the format of the club football championships will see a joint-motion from the Dunboyne and St Brigid's clubs considered.

The proposal is for a complete restructure of the football championships and leagues over a three-year period 2018 - 2020.

Based on the experience of previous years, it's quite likely that the delegates will agree to the proposed new format, initially.

However, the experience of 2016 and 2017 also suggests that by March, at the third Co Board meeting of the year, there will be a proposal to rescind the changes that may be sanctioned in either January or February.

At least that's what happened in 2016 and 2017.

The most important aspect for all the clubs, ahead of next Monday night's meeting, is that the delegates are mandated to deal with the proposals.

For that to happen, clubs will have to have discussed the proposals and made a definite decision unlike what happened previously when, it appears, that the proposals were only discussed after the decision was made.

The Dunboyne / St Brigid's proposal, if adopted, will change the format of the championships over the three-year period with a view to achieving a 16-team senior, a 16-team intermediate and a 19-team junior by 2020.

That puts the prospects of relegation on the cards for three senior and three intermediate teams, something that appears very unpalatable with the clubs that are likely to be involved in a battle for survival.

The proposed new Reserve FC is more likely to be opposed than embraced also with the usual excuses about unfairness and a bias against smaller clubs likely to be put forward as reasons for not making any changes.

And what about the proposed District Championship that could be introduced in 2020 with eight teams formed to compete in two groups during October following the conclusion of the IFC and JFC.

It's not a new concept outside of adult and some of the more successful amalgamations in the under-age ranks include Drumconrath / Meath Hill, Moynalty / Carnaross, Bective/Dunsany, Inny Gaels and St Vincent's / Curraha.

At least two clubs that are currently in the senior ranks would also be eligible for this competition by 2020 as they would have been relegated.

The make up of the eight Districts cannot be finalised at this stage and it would only be after the conclusion of the 2019 competitions that the eligible teams would be evident.

EXAMPLE
The groups that are proposed are as follows 
Men of the South - Clonard, Ballivor, Longwood, Ballinabrackey.
An Tuascairt - Kilmainhamwood, Drumconrath, Meath Hill, Syddan, Nobber, Castletown.
Blackwater - Carnaross, St Michael's, Moynalty, Kilmainham, Drumbaragh.
Tara - Bective, Dunsany, Walterstown.
Darnley - Boardsmill, Cortown, St Ultan's, Clann na nGael.
Boyne Valley - Dunderry, Trim.
Lough Crew - Oldcastle, Moylagh, Ballinlough, St Brigid's.
East Meath - St Vincent's, Curraha, Slane, Kilbride, St Mary's, St Paul's.