The debate about age grades in Westmeath GAA is set to rear its head again and may be the first real challenge for new County Board Chairman, Frank Mescall as plans are put in place for 2021 competitions.
There were calls for the return of an under 18 grade at the recent County Convention, with delegates from Rosemount, Milltown and The Downs addressing the issue.
While GAA policy is clear that grades are now under 13, under 15 and under 17, there is serious concern in Westmeath clubs that players are being lost from 17 onwards as they are not physically strong enough to play adult football or hurling and with no serious competition for them, they are dropping out of the sport.
There was no under 19 league or championship in Westmeath last year due to covid-19, but outgoing Chairman, Billy Foley insisted there were ambitious plans for this grade before the playing season was reduced.
Vinny Cox of Rosemount claimed the Junior ‘B’ was given greater priority than the proposed Under 19 Championship, which did not take place, but this was refuted by Billy Foley, who assured the clubs that Westmeath GAA had given the Under 19 competition serious consideration, but covid-19 had interrupted their plans.
Rosemount claimed 14 players had missed out on football due to the fact that no under 19 competition was held, while Millmore Gaels (Milltown/Ballymore) claimed they would be losing five players because of the gap from under 17 to adult in 2020. A further three players would be lost next year, according to delegate Paul McCaughey, who acknowledged the affect could be greater for rural clubs.
Aiden McGuire of The Downs said the club also has concerns about the gap between under 17 and adult.
“We are of the opinion that there is a gap and from under 18 onwards, it has been a problem within the association from two perspectives. Number one, it creates a problem for fixtures, but that could be circumvented quite easily by changing rule or by-law with the county prohibiting these players from playing adult competition. There would be uproar over that in clubs who struggle to field players, but people want a change back (to under 18) and expect everything to go their own way,” he remarked.
NOT FIT FOR ADULT COMPETITION
“The concern we have is there is too big of a gap from under 17 onwards. Notwithstanding there was meant to be an under 19, but even if the under 19 had taken place, the max, possibly, would have been two games. So somebody who is 18 and waiting all year to get a game at under 19, in our view, is just not good enough.
“It is not enough of an adult competition for them. That’s why we are seeking a reversal to the even age numbers. I know we had debates about this in the past, but if we go another year and covid still remains with us, and we don’t have under 19 next year, then really and truly…
“Most 17-year-olds are not fit to play adult competition at any kind of championship level, in our view. Certainly they would not be fit to play Junior Championship, they might be able to play in a ‘B’ competition, perhaps, but there aren’t many of those available to them either. They’re just not physically developed to play at adult level so you are dependant on a competition that is struggling. No more than the under 20 championship struggled previously, the under 19 is struggling, even to get it off the ground. I know 2020 was an exceptional year as regards competitions and I’m not having a cut at the fixtures committee. It’s just a fact of life.
“It just falls back into the tail end of the year because there aren’t sufficient windows there during the year to play an under 20 or an under 19 competition because of (adult) championships. Maybe a split season might work, but I wouldn’t bet on it. I think if you had an under 18 competition as heretofore, certainly it may reduce the drop off.”
Billy Foley, outgoing County Board Chairman, said the CCC in 2020 had very ambitious plans for the under 19 championship in both football and hurling.
“Covid hit us hard, but it would be absolutely remiss of us (to abandon that). We should give the under 19 at least one year to see how it goes. Not alone that, it would put is hugely out of kilter with other counties if we don’t do this,” he said.
Niall O’Brien of Rosemount, the County Board Coaching Officer, said he appreciates the fears about player drop off, but moving to under 18 will not be the solution and he suggested Westmeath will need to come up with a proper competition for these players.
“Moving the grade to under 18 and under 16, under 14, is not going to solve the massive problem in the GAA of losing players from 17 to 20 / 22. I think that’s the problem that needs to be addressed rather than changing the grades,” he said.
He noted the underage fixtures in 2020 were brilliant as there was no crossover, but cautioned that a return to under 18 will mean a massive crossover between adult football and hurling, under 18 and college football.
“It is less likely that an under 17 is going to be playing college football, he is not going to be playing adult football. I would agree with Aiden McGuire (The Downs) that a 17-year-old is not good enough to be playing adult football, but it’s up to us to come up with a meaningful competition (for them). If it means restructuring the senior championship, so be it,” he said.
Westmeath took the decision to change to under 13, 15 and 17 in 2020, in line with GAA policy, but with clubs remaining unconvinced, a new debate is now on the cards.