Offaly GAA revert back to U-14, 16 and 18 for 2025 championships

THE Offaly GAA County Board has voted in favour of changing their underage championship grades back to the old system of U-14, 16 and 18 – replacing the U-13, 15 and 17 grade which have been in existence for the past few years.

In an incredibly tight secret ballot, delegates voted by just one vote, 27-26, in favour of making the change back – there was one blank vote returned and chairman Michael Duignan smiled as he joked about not having to make the decision on his casting vote.

The issue had been debated at a number of recent meetings and briefings with clubs. The change will come in for for the 2025 season with the U-13, 15 and 17 grades remaining in force for next year.

With clubs having made their decisions at their own meetings, there was very little debate at Tuesday's County Board meeting.

Minors won't be allowed to play adult football and it means that clubs will have to wait an extra year for their young players from 2025 – this was a big part of the reason for the vote being so tight with St Brigid's delegate Micheal Casey claiming that they were facing “extinction” if they had to wait.

Michael Duignan once again hit out at national GAA authorities for not making a decision that applied across the board and instead forcing each individual county to make their own ruling – intercounty minor will continue to be played at U-17 level.