Meath fail in bid to curb Kerry club players’ eligibility

The New York hurlers will be part of the Lory Meagher Cup from next year.

Brothers David Clifford, left, and Paudie Clifford with the Corn Seamróga Chraobh Mháirtín after their side's victory in the AIB GAA All-Ireland Junior Club Football Championship. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Meath have failed in their bid to prevent players who line out for a divisional team in a senior championship from representing their clubs in the junior or intermediate provincial and All-Ireland series.

The proposal, considered to be aimed at Kerry clubs’ All-Ireland success in the lower grades, was one of 13 motions applicable to the codes section of the GAA rulebook voted on at Central Council in Croke Park earlier today. However, it received less than 20% support from delegates.

Ten motions were adopted including Cork’s recommendation to allow for more than 16 teams in a senior championship when a separate preliminary competition for that championship proper is organised as a qualifier for divisional and/or higher education college teams.

A proposal that also had the support of Kerry, it received 93.3% backing at the meeting.

Cork have 19 starters in the premier senior hurling championship (12 teams, six divisional sides and UCC) and 18 in the football equivalent. Both had required a derogation of rule from Croke Park.

Explaining the motion before Christmas, Cork GAA chief executive Kevin O’Donovan said: “I would think there is an expectation in Croke Park that we would reform eventually and have no more than 16 teams in Cork in the county championships.

“That very much undermines the format that we have and that we all love, with one of the divisions/colleges coming in and retaining their status in the county championship, albeit on a circuitous route.” 

Meanwhile, New York hurlers will be part of the Lory Meagher Cup from next year, a statement on the county’s website has confirmed.

It read: “In a historic development for New York hurling, the vibrant hurling community of the city has been granted entry into the prestigious Lory Meagher Cup, marking a significant milestone in the sport's growth in the Big Apple.

"With their entry into the Lory Meagher Cup, New York hurlers now have the opportunity to test their mettle against other aspiring teams and continue their upward trajectory in the hurling world.

“This milestone not only rewards their hard work and dedication but also underscores the potential for hurling's expansion and global reach."