The merit of a second chance for provincial champions

WITH the start of championship only weeks away, this weekend’s Comhdháil Bhliantúil Cumann Lúthchleas Gael in Newcastle, Co Down remains a distant concern for many GAA people. There are, however, going to be certain decisions taken before close of business at 4pm today that may affect the mechanics of our games and our competitions for some time to come.

Some may argue that convening a once-a-year meeting attended by hundreds of delegates to debate the multi-faceted and complex workings of the GAA is unwieldy in the extreme, but it remains an undeniable fact that decisions taken in relation to the staggering 123 motions before Congress this weekend will most likely have long-term ramifications at all levels of the organisation.

One of the more interesting bigger picture issues to make it to the clár this year concerns the second chance motions from Tyrone County Board and St Joseph’s-O’Connell Boys/Naomh Olaf in Dublin which relates to a further round of games for provincial champions should they lose at the quarter-final stage of the football championship.