Club championships entirely ill-suited to any universal structure

The scale of change in championship structures throughout history is in direct contrast with the perception that the organisation is adverse to it

GREEN SHOOTS: Garrymore had to amalgamate with Kilmaine at underage level seven years ago; now their membership is growing. Photo: Ray Ryan

With throw-in fast approaching in Garrymore last Saturday night and the long rural road to the ground choked with incoming cars, one savvy local found a workaround.

The venue was already packed with the biggest crowd club stalwarts have ever seen when a jeep appeared behind the wall at one side of the pitch. There was no road to that remote spot. This determined spectator elected to cut through a nearby farmer’s field, lights cut off lest he attract any attention, and settled on the bank for the blockbuster Mayo SFC quarter-final clash.