Offaly GAA officers and independent teams clash over Go Games proposals

A SIGNIFICANT difference of opinion emerged at a meeting of the Offaly GAA County Board on Tuesday evening over new proposals for U-8 and 10 hurling Go Games.

Go Games are informal, fun type games that cater for those age categories and can be anything from five to ten a-side.

The County Board Management Committee want every adult club to field teams in Go Games, ideally in both football and hurling, secretary Colm Cummins said. Cummins, chairman Michael Duignan and Bord na nOg chairman Keith Screeney put forward passionate arguments in favour of having young players play with their own club firstly at these age groups – Mr Cummins said they could then play with parish independent teams in the older age groups.

However, it soon became clear that there was serious opposition from clubs in some of those parish underage amalagamations – a lot of parishes combine to field underage teams with St Broughan's in Clonbullogue, St Vincent's in Daingean, Rhode Og in Rhode, Na Fianna in Killeigh, St Manchan's in Ballycumber, Doon and Erin Rovers, and others.

It was agreed to defer a decision on it to give clubs a chance to discuss the proposals.

Keith Screeney said there would be four primary benefits to them playing with their own club rather than independent teams at U-8 and 10 level: the players themselves, their club, their families and for Offaly. He said that national data says this model increases participation at underage.

Cappincur's Rory Goggins led the opposition, saying that they have four players at U-8 next year. He pointed out that 40% of the playing population is covered by five urban areas and they provided eight teams in Go Games this year in football while the other 60% produced 26 teams. “If we are looking for more teams, the elephant in the room is the organisation of Offaly,” he said.

He accused them of trying to weaken the 60%.

Colm Cummins said their philosophy was about the sustainability of clubs in Offaly. They had 41 clubs at the moment and couldn't afford to lose any more. He agreed new clubs could be created in urban areas and that there was an opportunity for clubs whose numbers have increased over time to split again.

He said this is about invigorating clubs as the centre of GAA in a community so that a players' and families' first experience is with their own club. He felt this would help clubs to get their identies and he said independent teams were there to cover clubs who didn't have the numbers for underage teams. This wasn't going away but this was about bringing in “energy” to clubs and bringing in new people. He also felt it would help solve boundary disputes around the county as people would go to the right club from day one.

He pointed out that 41 clubs are providing 15 teams in each grade at underage football because of independent teams. “That is a real outlier nationally,”, he saidm, pointing out that they have 135 teams at youth level. This places them fourth lowest in Ireland behind Kilkenny, Fermanagh and Carlow – Leitrim has 21 clubs and field 145 underage teams, Roscommon field 186 underage teams from 44 clubs. “We are not following a national trend,” he said.

Mr Cummins said they want to trial it and see how it goes and it only applies to U-8s and 10s. He stressed that they didn't want to fall below 41 clubs and he also said if a club couldn't field a Go Games team, they could apply to play with someone else and if it was justified, two clubs could join together.

Raheen delegate Padraig Pierce said there is 12 boys from 1st to 6th class in Cloneygowan National School, 15 in Geashill. “Where do we go,” he said, claiming that this will lead to the urban teams getting stronger again. “We are doing everything right out in Na Fianna, Geashill, Raheen,” he said.

Michael Duignan said most clubs should have seven boys and girls to make up a Go Games team. He stated that all hurling clubs, except CRC Gaels, have their own teams at Go Games. “How many kids are not playing,” he asked. “Do you not think this will increase numbers and get people playing for their clubs,” Mr Duignan said.

Mr Pierce: “I think there is a bigger picture coming from up there and this will make the urban centres get stronger”.

Mr Duignan said that was not their intention.

Erin Rovers' Eamon Dunican said they had huge issues with this. He pointed out that them and Doon have operated nurseries as DER Gaels since 1996 and then they go and play with St Manchan's. “We have successfully ran that for over thirty years,” he said, adding that their school in Pullough is going down in numbers and is going from a 5 to 3 teacher school. “I don't see how this is sustainable. I guarantee you every kid in Pullough knows Erin Rovers is their club and everyone in Rashina knows Doon is their club. It is totally unworkable for a club the size of Erin Rovers.”

Mr Duignan replied that a lot of clubs are struggling with numbers at adult level. He said he has seen clubs with 45 players togged out at U-13 level and barely able to field a team at minor.

“Your club is the basic unit and if you are fielding two teams as part of an independent team, we are all failing because that means you have the numbers,” Colm Cummins said. He stated that Go Games is totally relaxed and they shouldn't get obsessed with numbers. “It is about giving them experience and an opportunity to improve their skills,” he said.

He suggested that if it was a success, they could have a club championship in older age groups where every club fielded and then a county championship where independent teams come together and that would be your “A” championship.”We could have the best of both worlds,” he added.

Mr Pierce said the vision they were selling was not the vision they were living. He accused them of damaging the smaller clubs.

Mr Cummins said they have 15 teams at Go Games level but Cumann na mBunscol have over fify in their competitions. “There is a breakdwon there somewhere and we see this as a huge opportunity,” he said.

Kilclonfert's Bill Kavanagh said they could see merits in the proposal as they had ran a very successful cubs programme.

Rhode's Eoin Hickey felt more work needed to go into the proposals, stating that “it seems the floor is not overly enthusiastic about it”.

Mr Duignan said Wexford had 140 players in their U-15 football development squad this year, Offaly had 100 players playing at that level in all; Galway had 220 lads going for trials for U-14 hurling, Offaly had 100 playing at that age. “We think there is more kids out there,” he said. “You all know it, that is the reality. There is a lot of kids out there not playing for whatever reason. We have to get them out.”

Mr Liam Hackett, Health and Wellbeing Officer, said the principle was good but they had to be careful not to weaken rural clubs and to keep them at a level.