County board defy Davy as club games set to go ahead this week
At a heated meeting in Clareabbey last night, the letter signed by Fitzgerald and selector Louis Mulqueen was read out to clubs. The senior hurlers were also training at the centre in Clarecastle.
Clare minor manager Eamonn Fennessy too expressed a wish that the games be put back as they face Waterford in their Munster semi-final in Dungarvan next Wednesday.
While a vote wasn’t taken, several clubs had voiced their support for the games to go ahead and the green light was given for all the matches bar those involving dual clubs to be played after an impromptu meeting of the county’s central competitions committee.
However, there is a strong possibility the fixtures will fall within the 13-day period of Clare’s first round qualifier. According to rule, counties are permitted to have access to their players 13 days prior to a game. However, Clare won’t know the date of their backdoor game until next Monday at the earliest. The game can take place on either June 28 or July 5.
Chairman Michael McDonagh had last night told clubs those clubs beaten this weekend could appeal the results based on the prospect of the games falling within the 13-day period.
Fitzgerald’s club Sixmilebridge and Broadford were among clubs who claim they weren’t invited to a meeting of senior clubs in the West County Hotel on Monday evening to discuss the matter where it was decided to support the games going ahead.
It’s understood the county board had put in a request to Croke Park to have their qualifier played on July 5. However, it was turned down.
Meanwhile, Carlow footballer Brendan Murphy said the state of football in the county is at “an all-time low” after their 28-point drubbing at the hands of Meath on Sunday.
Murphy, who chose not to accept an invite into this year’s panel, told 2FM’s Game On that they are “the worst footballing county in the country” and fears if something isn’t done soon they won’t be able to fulfil county fixtures.
“The feeling around Carlow football at the moment is that it’s at an all time low and unless we address this issue it’s only going to get worse year after year. I think there’s a terrible attitude towards the county team across all of Carlow. At the moment it means more to play for your club than your county. Clubs have a feeling against the county board and that players aren’t being looked after.”
Carlow’s first round qualifier opponents Waterford’s participation in the 2015 Munster football championship will be on the agenda for the September meeting of the county board.
With the Déise panel set to boycott next year’s competition if the current seeded draw stays in place, the board will seek guidance from club delegates regarding what direction to take at provincial level.
Since the return of the seeded system last September, Waterford have followed Tipperary, Clare and Limerick in opting out of the McGrath Cup and Railway Cup. Players and management also withdrew from the provincial championship launch in Limerick.
Last month, Waterford captain Shane Briggs insisted they will join the other affected counties in boycotting the 2015 provincial championship unless the seeded draw ends. “In a year’s time all of the four counties have said that they are going to boycott the Munster championship altogether if the open draw is not revisited. Hopefully common sense will prevail and the county board will back the players.”
At a special meeting convened on Monday night, the board rejected a raft of proposals from the Football Review Committee regarding championship structures. An overwhelming majority threw out the FRC suggestion of allowing a national CCCC to co-ordinate fixtures. Completing the All Ireland club championships in the calendar year and re-organising the provincial championships into four groups of eight also faced stern opposition.
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