Clubs urged to caution players over post-match house parties
By Shane Brophy
Tipperary fixtures chairman Joe Kennedy has warned players against congregating at house parties after matches as it jeopardises the chance of getting championships completed.
Speaking at last weeks County Board meeting in Thurles, he reported there is anecdotal evidence of players gathering in numbers in houses to celebrate victories and urged clubs to talk to their players to be more responsible.
“Club need to warn players to desist from those because as can be seen from clusters in other counties, once they start, they can spiral out on control,” Kennedy said.
“It might be great to go out and celebrate a win but we all spent the months of April and May hoping for matches so I would certainly hope we would be responsible enough to desist from those house parties and get our games played. It’s a huge concern. We don’t want a situation where a team has to withdraw from the championship after putting in so much work to get back playing.”
Football criticism
There was criticism of the County Executive for voting in a format change for the senior and intermediate football championships, which removed the quarter final round, unlike hurling which was retained.
There was criticism of the County Executive for voting in a format change for the senior and intermediate football championships, which removed the quarter final round, unlike hurling which was retained.
Ardfinnan’s William Nagle said he was sympathetic the position the County CCC found themselves in regarding having to alter championship structures and the power given to them by Croke Park to do it, but he claimed the decision to remove the quarter finals “made a difference between a club hurler and footballer.”
“I am coming here to know that most clubs here are more into hurling and football, and I accept that,” he continued.
“However, what I do not accept is that the executive of the county board can bring this proposal to a meeting. You are there to represent all club players equally. It is hard enough to promote football in this county as it is, and we are looking for support from the executive and we feel as a club we did not get it.
“It was an horrendous decision; we have no idea where ye got it from. “You shouldn’t have the right to choose hurling over football, that’s not your role.
Joe Kennedy responded by saying the County CCC took a lot of time putting together a championship structure that would keep both hurling and football clubs happy.
“Our preference was to have no quarter finals in both codes and once clubs opened for training there was consultation with a lot of clubs.
“One hurling club said to me can’t you play the eleven rounds of hurling and play the football midweek and protect the hurling championship,” he revealed.
Kennedy added there was no appetite to play midweek games and with that in mind they felt that with the hurling clubs giving up their divisional championships, as well as a county preliminary quarter final, they were losing out more than the football championships were.
“By having no quarter finals in hurling, you are taking out a quarter final, preliminary quarter final and four rounds of divisional hurling, that is six rounds of hurling,” Kennedy said.
“So, we kept the quarter finals, but the hurling championship is still losing five rounds and we just took out the quarter final in football which knocks out one round in football.
“The divisions willingly gave up their divisional hurling championships to allow us play a county championship and the only carrot for that was there would be quarter finals."
Joe Kennedy added that this year’s championship should be about participation and every club is guaranteed three group games per code, and they could get more if the divisions opt to play their championships between September 20th and October 31st, without county players, if they so wish.
County Chairman John Devane said even without the quarter finals in football, three of the four county championship groups still have something at stake in the final round which is “the beauty of the championship,” he said, adding that the structure of the senior football championship needs to be looked at in terms of reducing the number of teams from sixteen to make it even more competitive.
Intermediate Football relegation
The CCC chairman also confirmed that Borrisokane, Cashel King Cormacs and Kiladangan who failed to field in the group stages of the County Intermediate Football Championship will be expected to participate in the relegation competition.
The CCC chairman also confirmed that Borrisokane, Cashel King Cormacs and Kiladangan who failed to field in the group stages of the County Intermediate Football Championship will be expected to participate in the relegation competition.
“The championship and relegation are two different competitions and we expect those clubs to fulfil their role in relegation,” Joe Kennedy said, adding the three clubs have been fines, and will be fined again if they fail to field in the relegation competition.