Reports from the last County Board meeting were that Clann na nGael submitted a motion to increase the amount of Senior teams to 18,meaning that there would be no relegation this year.This motion was defeated on the thought that there aren't 18 Senior teams in Meath.Then both representives from both Ratoath and Moylagh stood up and expressed the opinion that this situation once again highlighted the importance of Curraha's motion in the County Convention.There are definitely 18,and even 20 Senior teams in Meath but that's including the divisional teams nominated by Curraha.

I knew that all the Senior Clubs would outright reject this motion because they're petrified of competition for the Keegan Cup,but what I can't understand are the representitives from Intermediate and Junior Clubs who went along with the Senior Club representitives and voted no also.Why would a representitive of an Intermediate or Junior Club deny their most talented players the chance to play Senior Football?????????Just shows the County Board is about 20 years out of date!

Anyway,both the Ratoath and Moylagh representitives called for the motion to be re-submitted at the next County Convention for proper consideration.What do people think??

johnboywalton58 (Meath) - Posts: 71 - 11/03/2010 19:19:27    585755

Rejected - end of story.

Fabio Capello (Meath) - Posts: 174 - 11/03/2010 19:28:09    585764

It wont happen lads as the senior clubs wont want it.

12Royal (Meath) - Posts: 987 - 11/03/2010 20:43:23    585890

people are so narrow minded, this is the way forward and can only help the county team. Cant understand why people are so opposed to the idea. we are living in the stone age in meath

Ochocinco (Meath) - Posts: 82 - 11/03/2010 20:48:56    585900

this format is a huge success in kerry and cork !!! 11 of corks starting team last yr wer frm internediate or junior clubs, compared to half that with meath. as well as dat for de clubs hu reject it in fear of bein beatin should again look at de cork and kerry example as nemo rangers or an gaeltacht seem to be able to wwin championships despite the amalgamations. This is clearly the way forward for our county if we want to challenge for provincial and all ireland honours once again

dorkside (Meath) - Posts: 71 - 13/03/2010 17:14:10    587266

its the underage structure that needs looking at too though.when was the last time we won anything underage?

stamullenman (Meath) - Posts: 392 - 15/03/2010 12:15:36    588309

wont happen, it's unworkable. you should read the proposal. Ya think Meath football is badly run now, give it five years of the proposed new structure under the Curraha proposal and the county would be in a rite state. It's club football, some clubs are strong, some are weak....its part of the game...accept it

CommitteeeeMan (Meath) - Posts: 153 - 15/03/2010 12:27:10    588336

Meath are pretty strong at underage.The U14's,U16's,U17's are all very comptitive in the competitions that they take part in and the minors have won 2 lienster championships in 3 years and have been in 2 All-Ireland Semi-finals and an All Ireland final apearence in 2002.Juvinile football in Meath is in a healthy state,it is after minor where the problems start as the players are not progressed and get lost in the system, and dont get a chance with the Meath seniors.I do feel though that club football in Meath is improving at Junior,Intermediate and Senior.

12Royal (Meath) - Posts: 987 - 15/03/2010 18:09:34    588884

CommitteeeeMan
County: Meath
Posts: 95

588336 wont happen, it's unworkable. you should read the proposal. Ya think Meath football is badly run now, give it five years of the proposed new structure under the Curraha proposal and the county would be in a rite state. It's club football, some clubs are strong, some are weak....its part of the game...accept it
_____________________________________________

CommitteeeeMan it's attitudes like yours that has Meath football in the state its in.You probaly are on the Meath Committee and all.You haven't given any reasons why divisional teams couldn't work,just that it won't work!!that's a great attitude to have.....with people like yourself in high positions Meath football will never get anywhere.
You say it's unworkable,how do both Kerry and Cork do it,do they have superior intelligence to us?????I don't think so!The best Gaelic footballer in the country at the moment,Declan O'Sullivan,is from a Junior A team in Kerry.Lucky he's not playing in Meath or he'd never of got half the chance to be the footballer he is today.

johnboywalton58 (Meath) - Posts: 71 - 16/03/2010 12:06:53    589552

I have read Curragha's proposal and I agree that it's unworkable in it's current state. Doesn't mean that they aren't on the right track though. District teams have been an enormous success in Kerry. I can remember Pat Spillane fretting not so long ago that Kerry football was in an awful state because Austin Stacks had no representatives on the county panel. Well, that was down to district teams allowing players like the afore-mentioned O'Sullivan and a certain Seamus Moynihan the chance to shine at the highest level of club competition.

Personally I really don't like the idea of a traditional club championship hosting district teams. Whether it's the Junior C or the Senior Championship it's about representing the town or the parish and the glory of a cup run. In that sense I would like to see the A Football League hosting district teams. It would mean expanding the competition and probably altering the championships so that they revert to a traditional knock-out format, all be it with a back-door in place. I think this makes sense, there are too many championship fixtures right now and expanding to eighteen teams is only going to exacerbate the situation.

Let's propose four district teams, comprising roughly the same number of clubs, demographics being taken into account. Certain provisos would be attached to these regional sides. First off, they would function as development squads with management appointed by a a Football Development Co-ordinator. There would be an age-limit in place restricting eligibility for these teams, players would have to be under-27 to qualify. Only players from clubs operating outside of Division 1 would be eligible to play. These four teams would be guaranteed Division 1 status, never being relegated. If their parish club were to achieve promotion to Division 1 they would no longer be eligible to play for the district.

The idea would be to identify young players with potential at small, struggling clubs and develop them within the right coaching set-up. These players might include lads who never got the opportunity to play inter-county football at underage level. They would still enjoy the freedom to represent their club in the championship, be it at junior or even senior level but the bulk of their games would be at a very high level with the best coaches in the county monitoring their progress. District managers would be in regular communication with Meath senior management, providing shortlists of players who should be considered for call-ups during pre-season or the National League.

Ollie99 (Meath) - Posts: 442 - 17/03/2010 19:08:06    590684

John Boy - nope I'm not on any county board.
There will be 18 senior clubs next year because the Co Board need to do away with the bye's in the current system.
Whats wrong with a traditional club championship? The cream always rises to the top, good players will always play for the county. Some clubs will be Senior, some Inter and some Junior. Thats life. Thats what makes it interesting. Ten years ago what would you say if you were told Wolfe Tones a Junior team would be representing Meath in the Leinster Club championship. If clubs put in the work and invest in coaching and raising the standards in their own club rather than looking for a more simple alternative such as divisional teams that will pander to the elite of a certain geographical locale, Meath football would be far better off

CommitteeeeMan (Meath) - Posts: 153 - 17/03/2010 20:54:30    590796