Offaly GAA club angry as grad clash results in U-20 hurling walkover

BELMONT GAA Club have expressed anger after their request for a postponement of an U-20 hurling game on Tuesday evening because of a clash with a local secondary school graduation dance was refused.

Instead the Offaly Competitions Control Committee awarded the points to Carrig-Riverstown/Crinkle, informing clubs that Belmont had “conceded” their first round fixture.

Belmont GAA Club have taken issue with that, sending an email to the County Board and clubs, explaining that a secondary school within the parish (Ferbane) were holding a graduation dance on Tuesday evening and that thirteen of their likely first fifteen along with a number of subs were attending this.

They maintained that because of the grad “it is impossible for us to field a team”. Belmont had argued that their request should have been granted under a rule which allows for matches to be postponed in exceptional circumstances.

For the first time, the U-20 Hurling and Football Championships are being run on a league basis this year but the hurling is getting off to a very unsatisfactory start. Shamrocks have also conceded a walkover in their opening game against Tullamore, informing the board that they couldn't field because of injuries and holidays.

Despite reservations about the wisdom of trying to run more games from the fixtures makers because of a packed schedule of games from August on, Offaly GAA agreed to requests for clubs for extra games to be played at this level and to run the championship on a league basis – instead of the traditional knockout.

Games in the second round of the U-20 Football Championship did fall by the wayside last Tuesday week as adult fixtures from that Sunday were cancelled because of the death of Offaly GAA life president and former chairman Brendan Ward. With Leinster club championships imminent in senior and other grades, the CCC gave precedence to those games over U-20 - there is little margin for error with the fixtures programme while Ferbane have another senior football game on this Saturday.

Belmont are not impressed and told clubs on Tuesday that Carrig-Riverstown/Crinkle were willing to facilitate their request for a deferral to Wednesday evening. However, chairman of the CCC James Murphy revealed on Tuesday afternoon that they may have been able to accommodate a request to bring the game forward to Monday evening but could not open the floodgates by allowing one to go back. He revealed that Carrig-Riverstown/Crinkle could not facilitate Belmont on Monday evening. “We will always agree to look at bringing a game forward if there is agreement but not back”, he said – that has been Offaly GAA policy for a few decades.

Mr Murphy explained that they have dealt with several requests from clubs for postponements for all sorts of reasons, including clashes with grads, and they have to be consistent. “Everyone must get the same respect and the same rules must apply. We must all abide by our bye laws and regulations. With the split season, we can't allow postponements.”

The Rhode man revealed that the masters fixtures plan with dates went out to clubs last February while official fixtures for this game were sent out a few weeks ago. “Surely they would have been able to flag this before the fixtures went out,” he said, adding: When championship matches are fixed and ready to go, it is not possible to change the schedule. Until last week, we heard nothing about a problem. If we change for one club for any reason, we have to treat every club the same. Quite a number of clubs have had issues with graduations and have had to get on with it by playing without players.”

In an email, Belmont's John Ferris wrote: “Unfortunately, our County Board and CCC would rather see a game forfeited rather than be played and also lack any reasonable request to accommodate a change. It's worth noting that Moystown Pitch is available tomorrow evening and the nominated referee Kieran Pat Kelly is also not fixed on latest fixtures for a game tomorrow evening.”

Asking what qualifies as exceptional circumstances, Mr Ferris added: “Surely our county board and CCC want clubs to honour and play their fixtures. 

“Why are players being punished for attending their school graduation, where for the last 5-6 years they attended school and have a formal graduation to attend. Punishing teenagers is a shocking indictment on Offaly GAA.  

“As I mentioned previously there is no reason why this game could not have been allowed to be played tomorrow evening other than a number of people using rules to protect themselves and punish teenagers for attending their school graduation.  

 “Its time the County Board develop a process where clubs can approach the county board in advance with fixture issues. Now that fixtures are set a number of weeks ahead, there should be a process to seek change of fixtures within reason. 

“In these days of modern technology where companies, clubs and businesses can adapt and make changes with the use of technology on a whim, its quite old fashioned that we have to follow an email process and await a decision from CCC via email with no possibility to appeal.

“We all need to do something to improve on communication. I look forward to your examples of exceptional circumstances.”