Coolderry and CRC Gaels must field separate minor hurling teams

COOLDERRY and CRC Gaels (Carrig-Riverstown and Crinkle) must field separate minor hurling teams after a proposal to be allowed amalgamate at that level was shot down by the Offaly GAA County Board.

The clubs were given the go ahead to field combined underage teams in younger grades at an earlier meeting but were told they could not do so at minor (U-17 level).

They attempted to get that decision rescinded at the April meeting of the board but just failed. A proposal to change the earlier decision received a clear majority, 26-21 but it needed three fifths or 31 votes to pass.

Chairman of the Offaly Competitions Control Committee, James Murphy said they were against the request to amalgamate. He pointed out that both Coolderry and CRC Gaels had reached the quarter-finals last year while Coolderry had won their first two games this year on their own.