U-21 All-Ireland impacts on fixtures

NEW dates have been agreed for the latter stages of this year’s Clare senior hurling and football championships.

The September meeting of the board agreed to the change after hearing from the U-21 hurling management team.

Opening the discussion, chairman Michael O’Neill told delegates, “We have a backlog but it’s nothing we can’t get over”.

Joint team manager, Donal Moloney recalled attending a meeting on July 26 when they got a lot of support and it helped them “get us over the line in the Munster final. You saw how tight it was and how fine a line there is between victory and defeat,” he said.

Moloney went on to request that championship games involving the U-21s not go ahead this coming weekend. “We are specifically talking about the five players from Cratloe. They are the backbone of their club’s hurling and football teams and also the backbone of our team. They are remarkable players. We encourage all dual players to get to this level,” he said

Doonbeg’s Michael Neenan asked, “What are the alternatives?” before proposing that the other three quarter-finals go ahead as planned.

Newmarket’s Mike Clancy felt it is reasonable request. “We have to figure out a way of accommodating it. We have to find an alternative.”

“It’s a very reasonable request,” according to Cooraclare’s PJ McGuane who suggested, “It would be unreasonable to play three quarter-finals until we have all four ready. The question is when will Cratloe and Liscannor play,” he said.

Secretary Pat Fitzgerald told the meeting he examined the fixtures schedule. “In hurling, the Munster club starts for the Clare winners on November 11. Allowing for the possibility of a replay in the Clare final, we could have the final on October 28, the semi-finals on October 14 and the quarter-finals on September 30.

In football, the Munster club for Clare is on November 4 so we can play the county final on October 21, the semi-finals on October 7 and the quarter-finals on September 23. The problem is the Cratloe versus Liscannor game,” he said before paying tribute to both clubs for their co-operation to date.

Doonbeg’s Michael Neenan told the meeting his club “want the championship to go ahead as per the masters fixtures plan. We can play three quarter-finals this weekend,” he said.

Pat Frawley, St Joseph’s, said, “St Joseph’s have a played on the U-21 panel and we will not play without him”.

“If we don’t go ahead,, the masters fixtures plan is totally gone. I am defending the masters fixtures plan,” said Doonbeg’s Neenan. “We might as well not meet next February if we keep coming in here like this,” he added when noting that Kilkenny and Mayo are well advanced in their championships. The Doonbeg man also told the meeting, “We have players based in England and we have to make bookings to bring them home this weekend. Will Éire Óg play us this weekend? he asked.

“We have to look at reality as well,” said board chairman Michael O’Neill. “Kilkenny and Mayo are single-code counties.

St Joseph’s delegate, Pat Frawley noted, “We are accused of putting off matches and compared to Cork and Tipperary, they have numerous All-Irelands. We have had success in the last 10 years. It’s great to have a chance of winning an All-Ireland title.”

PJ McGuane proposed that the new dates, as suggested by the secretary, be adopted and this was seconded by Clarecastle’s Bernard Hanrahan. Apart from asking that the quarter-finals go ahead as scheduled this weekend. Michael Neenan did not put any alternative proposal to the meeting. As there was no opposition to the proposal as put by McGuane, it was accepted.

Neither Cratloe or Liscannor, who have to play for the final quarter-final place, made any contribution to the debate.

Joint Clare U-21 hurling manager Gerry O’Connor acknowledged all for their support and !we hope we can respond by delivering an All-Ireland title”.

The joint managers were accompanied at the meeting by fellow selectors, Paul Kinnerk and Jimmy Browne.