Major changes proposed to Clare GAA competition structures

Changes in the format of the senior football and hurling championships, a drop in the number of regradings to be allowed, a reduction in the number of senior hurling teams from 20 to 16 over the next two years, delaying the start of the U-21 Football Championship until the end of September and putting a limit of five years on the term in which county board delegates can serve are just some of the proposals that will go before a special meeting of Clare GAA next Monday night.
These recommendations are contained in a 20-page report circulated to clubs this week arising from the deliberations of the seven-person structures committee set up back in November.
Monday’s meeting will consider the proposals and it seems likely that the majority of recommendations will be adopted.
Committee chairman Padraic Boland from Broadford outlined how the committee endeavoured to undertake as comprehensive a review and consultative process as possible within this short timeframe.
“All clubs were contacted and encouraged to submit any proposal they thought would be of benefit and were also invited to attend regional meetings in early December,” he explained.
The committee also met with representatives from the county board, the Clare CCC and the senior county hurling and football managers.
“We were disappointed with the number of written proposals received but we found all regional and other meetings engaging and very constructive. We found that the regional meetings may be beneficial to future committees and, indeed to the county board in helping to forge a stronger bond with clubs,” Mr Boland stated.
“The proposals made are based solely on the feedback received from all stakeholders concerned,” he emphasised.
“It is not possible to address all concerns within the scope of this review and the time available but we have sought to address the issues in need of most urgent attention. Our committee has acted totally independent of all current structures and committees in place,” he added.
Mr Boland urged all clubs “to look at the bigger picture for the betterment of the GAA in Clare”.
The other members of the committee were Nuala Shanahan (Doonbeg), Rosaleen Monaghan (Tubber), Gerry O’Neill (Kilmihil), Colm Browne (Kilrush), Jack Chaplin (Cratloe) and Denis Tuohy (Whitegate).

Concerns
The committee found that the main concerns and problems raised included:
• Long gaps in the senior championship campaigns.
• Too many meaningless championship matches.
• Difficulties with fixtures: dual clubs and isolated players etc.
• Club v county: the emphasis on county teams to the detriment of the club.
• Current re-grading system dictating that the highest grades of championship had to start first with the resultant delays in the starting of the lower grades.
• Changing demographics with the greater numbers emigrating or migrating increasing the necessity for group teams in the future.
• The need for clubs to have inter-county players released for all club league games.
• The huge difficulty for club fixtures due to the national fixtures calendar and, in particular, the current inter-county qualifier system given the uncertainty as to which stage the county team may enter same.
• Postponement of club championship games arising from the progression of underage county teams in their respective competitions.

According to the report “The biggest obstacle to playing club fixtures during the summer months is currently the number of inter-county games and, in particular, the current qualifier systems. Under the current system a county cannot give a certain date for a round of championship fixtures in the month of July when drawing up the club master fixtures plan”.
While stating “it is outside our remit”, the committee proposes that “every effort is made by Clare County board to seek agreement from the GAA at national level, through Central Council or a motion to congress that provision is made annually in the GAA’s national fixtures calendar for a number of weekends to be made available exclusively for club fixtures during the summer months, thereby allowing club championships to be played during the months in which they should be played”.
The report also suggests that the timing of the All-Ireland championships be reviewed with a view to concluding the All-Ireland series by the end of August each year. They also suggest that the rounds of the National Football League in Divisions 3 and 4 be fixed for Saturdays in as many cases as possible. This, they say, would free up some Sundays for club league matches.
The following is a summary of the changes being proposed:

Football
The biggest problem amongst clubs regarding to the football championship concerned the large gap between rounds one and two and because of this it is proposed NOT to start the championship before July 1 for a trial period of two years.
It is also proposed to change the format to a knockout championship with a backdoor system guaranteeing all teams a minimum of three games as follows:
Round 1 – 16 teams play in eight first round games.
Round 2 – Eight round 1 winners play-off, with winners going to championship quarter finals – four losers go into round three.
Eight round 1 losers play-off with winners qualifying for round 3 and losers going into relegation play-off.
Round 3 – Four losers from the winners play-off in Round 2 play the four winners from the Round 2 losers group – losers from this round go into the semi-finals of the Senior B.
Round 4 – quarter-finals with Round 2 winners playing Round 3 winners.
Round 5 – semi-finals on an open draw.
To allow for a group team to play in the championship in 2013, it is proposed that two teams be relegated from the senior championship in 2012.
In the event of two or more group teams wishing to play in the senior championship, it is proposed that these teams play off prior to the start of the championship in April/May each year. It is further proposed that group teams be excluded from the relegation play-offs.
• No changes are proposed to the format of the intermediate championship but it is proposed to relegate two teams at the end of 2012. It is also proposed that the starting of the intermediate championship is NOT dependent on a round of the senior championship being played first.
• No changes are proposed for the junior A and B championship formats but it is proposed that the starting of the junior championships is NOT dependent on a round of the higher grades being played first.
• In relation to the U-21 championship, the format is to remain knock-out but the starting date is proposed to be after September 1 with some games possibly being played under lights.
To facilitate the playing of the U-21 competition at this later stage, teams competing at the concluding stages of senior, intermediate or junior county championships or at Munster club level may have to play rounds of the U-21 championship in the week prior to or after one of the aforementioned matches. Clubs must co-operate with the fixtures committee in this regard.
• With regard to the leagues the committee proposes that, where possible, the leagues are completed prior to the starting of their respective championships.
They further propose that clubs are requested to play a maximum of two league games without inter-county players, if necessary but the fixtures committee are to avoid, where possible, fixing league matches where clubs would be required to play without inter-county players.
It is also proposed that the top team in each division automatically qualifies for the final of the division with the second and third placed teams playing a semi-final with the second placed team having home advantage where possible. The final pairing in each group to gain promotion.

Hurling
The Senior Hurling Championship provoked the most debate through the meetings held and there was an overwhelming desire to change the format.
It was noted that Clare had not won a senior provincial club championship since the introduction of the group stages in the early 2000s.
Under the current format it was felt that there are a number of games that have little value. A number of formats were proposed and it was noted by all that there are not 20 senior A teams in Clare capable of winning the championship.
The gap of between 10 and 12 weeks between rounds is a huge concern and in an effort to reduce this the committee feels it is necessary to reduce the number of rounds from eight to six.
• It is proposed to reduce the number of senior teams to 16 at the end of 2013.
• Only one team will be relegated in 2012.
• In 2014 it is proposed to run the championship on a knockout basis with a backdoor system similar to what is proposed for football.
• It is proposed to re-introduce the senior B (two groups of four) and senior A (three groups of four) format for 2012 and 2013.
• Grading of teams to A or B is to be based on group finishes over the past three seasons.
• Teams recently promoted from intermediate are likely to be graded as senior B.
• The top two teams in each of the three senior A groups will qualify for the quarter finals, as well as the top team in each of the two B groups who will also qualify for the B final.
• The final of the B championship to be played before the quarter-finals of the senior championship, if possible.
• The winner of the senior B to be promoted to senior A for 2013.
• The bottom teams in each of the senior A groups will play-off to determine who will be relegated to senior B for 2013.
• The bottom teams in the two senior B groups play-off to determine who will be relegated to intermediate for 2013.
• In 2012 the senior championship is to start at the end of May with Round 2 towards the end of June and the final group match as early as possible in July or early August, depending on the progression of the inter-county teams.
• A similar format to apply in 2013 except that the bottom team in each of the two senior B groups will be relegated to intermediate. The final three teams to be relegated will come from the fourth place team in each of the three senior A groups and the second and third place teams in the two senior B groups.
• In 2014 the senior championship will be run on an open draw basis with 16 teams, with a backdoor system ensuring that all teams have a minimum of three games.
l It is proposed to relegate two teams from the 2014 competition to accommodate the inclusion of a group team.
• In 2012 and 2013, it is proposed to run the intermediate championship in three groups of four.
• The top team in each group will go into the semi-finals.
• The second team in each group will play off for the fourth semi-final spot.
• The bottom team in each group will play off to determine who will be relegated.
• In 2014 with the number of teams increasing to 16, it is proposed to run the intermediate championship in a similar format to that proposed for the senior championship of that year, an open draw with a backdoor system.
• It is proposed to relegate two teams from intermediate to junior A in 2014.
• No change is proposed in the format that currently exists for the Junior A Championship.
• It is proposed to maintain the same format in the junior B (four groups of four) except to introduce quarter finals.
• The starting of this competition is not dependent on higher grade competitions being started.
• No change is proposed to the junior C championship.
• No change is proposed to the U-21 championship.
• In the Clare Champion Cup, it is proposed that Division 1A, 2A and 2B be re-named Division 1A, 1B and 2 with the top two teams in 1A and 1B qualifying for the semi-finals of the Clare Champion Cup.
• The top team in Division 2 will qualify for the Division 2 final with the second and third place teams qualifying for the semi-final. The Division 2 finalists will gain promotion to Division 1B.
• Two teams will be promoted and relegated from each group.
• It is proposed that clubs be requested to play a maximum of two league games without inter-county players, if necessary.
• With regard to group teams, it is proposed that the current rule of not permitting grouped/amalgamation teams will have to be rescinded to afford as many players as possible the opportunity to play and compete at senior level.
• It is the view of the committee that no club should lose its own identity and competitions at some lower grades may have to be altered in the future to facilitate reduced numbers thereby protecting the individual club unit.

General
• Reduction in the number of players to be regraded from five to four in 2012 and from four to three in 2013 and subsequent years.
• Consideration be given to allowing players who did not play championship in the preceding year and who wish to be regraded not to be included in the limit mentioned but a cap of two to apply in any one year for each club for this time of regrading application.
• The 13 day rule for senior inter-county teams should be applied with the exception of a senior team reaching an All-Ireland final.
• No deferral of fixtures should arise in the case of the minor, U-21 and junior/intermediate games except if the respective Clare team reaches the All-Ireland final in which time, additional time may be considered strictly in consultation with clubs.
• A reduction in the number of county board meetings would increase the chances of more meaningful meetings being held and a policy of quality over quantity would benefit all concerned.
• It is proposed that the maximum period for a club delegate to represent their club at county board level be limited to five years commencing in 2012.

Conclusion
Concluding the report states, “it is difficult to address all of the issues in the short timeframe since November. All feedback and views received were considered. The committee wish to acknowledge the progress which has been made in Clare GAA to date and the outstanding work of so many dedicated people which has facilitated the playing of our games.
“We hope that this report will seek to build on that progress and that the implementation of its proposals will lead to the betterment of Clare GAA as a whole.
“Clare GAA has shown in the past its ability to change and move forward. That strength was never more important than now and the clubs of Clare must lead this change. This report will help to start the process but given the times we live in, flexibility will be required from all stakeholders into the future to allow for the participation of all our clubs in out games to ensure that the best interests of Clare GAA are promoted.”