Munster Colleges say ‘no’ to amalgamations

The recent annual meeting of Munster colleges GAA voted against allowing amalgamations in the coming season.

It’s a decision that has annoyed Clare GAA coaching staff as the county’s games development manager Sean Chaplin explained this week when expressing disappointment at the outcome.

“We are very disappointed with the vote.  As one of the weaker football counties having amalgamations was helping to bridge the gap with the top tier. Because of population figures most of our schools won’t be able to be play on their own due to a lack of numbers.

“The opportunity to play in the top grade has been taken from north and west Clare schools. It should have been looked on in a case by case basis,” he said.

The success of Waterford colleges in the Dr Harty Cup and the 1B championship in hurling has, it seems, influenced this decision. The schools that made up the Dungarvan colleges teamwere also quite successful in the B and C competitions and many felt that they were strong enough to compete at A level on their own.

The annual meeting recommended gradings that have been forwarded to Croke Park. However, draws for the various competitions, normally made at the beginning of June each year have yet to be made.
The committee that will take charge of running the colleges’ programme has yet to be put in place.

“The appointment of such committees is now the responsibility of the provincial council and we are currently identifying and meeting with people who are anxious to get involved. A meeting is due to take place next week and a committee should be in place shortly,” Munster GAA’s CEO Simon Moroney told The Clare Champion this week.

The Clare man added that “draws for next season ‘s competitions won’t be made until a committee is in place”.

Last year steps were taken to amalgamate the colleges committee and the vocational schools committee and it is understood that there will be just one committee in place in the future to run the fixtures of both groups.