Westmeath GAA Notes by Aidan Walsh (County PRO)
Bord na Móna O Byrne Cup starts season:
Westmeath start 2014 with an early season joust against All Ireland Champions Dublin in the opening round of the O Byrne Cup. As opening games go, a tilt at the All Ireland champions is certainly one to whet the appetite for our supporters. This will be the first of two outings that Westmeath will have against Dublin over the next six weeks as both counties will clash in Round 2 of the National football league on Sunday 9th February which is also in Mullingar. So to Sundays game, where will the spoils go? Obviously Dublin will be favourites but in recent years they have used the O Byrne cup to blood fringe players and their results in this competition are average enough. However, they have great strength in depth and Westmeath will be doing well to pull a win from this match. Paul Bealin and his management team have been trawling through a great number of players over the past couple of months so it is likely that the home side will be in experimental mode also. Still a win on Sunday would be a huge boost to confidence and would lay down a marker for the league campaign ahead. The game is on Sunday 5th January in Cusack Park and is set for a 2-00pm throw in.
Sympathy:
Since our last notes, there have been quite a number of deaths within the Westmeath GAA community. We in Westmeath GAA would like to extend our sincere sympathy to the families of Aisling Maguire, Mickey Fagan and Bernadette Farrell whom all passed to their eternal reward in recent weeks. May they all rest in peace.
Planning Report Proposals:
With the inter county season commencing next Sunday, the club season will follow shortly afterwards with early season cup competitions likely to start in mid January. The planning committee proposals have been forwarded to clubs and will be finalised over the next couple of weeks. The full list of proposals is as follows:
Senior Football Championship:
Two groups of 6 teams to be played on a League basis. Teams as follows:
Athlone, Bunbrosna, Castledaly, Coralstown/Kinnegad, Garrycastle, Killucan, Maryland, Mullingar Shamrocks, St. Lomans Mullingar, St. Malachys, The Downs, Tyrrellspass.
Last year’s finalists and semi finalists will be seeded in separate groups.
Groups to be Drawn for seeded teams, semi-finalists to be in opposite groups to team they played in last years semi-final eg (If Tyrrellspass are drawn in section A then Mullingar Shamrocks will be in Section B)
Open Draw there after
Intermediate Football Championship:
Two groups of 6 teams to be played on a League basis. Teams as follows:
Ballinagore, Ballymore, Ballynacargy, Caulry, Mullingar Shamrocks, Milltownpass, Rosemount, Shandonagh, St. Marys Rochfortbridge, Tang, Tubberclair, Castletown Finea/Coole/Whitehall.
Three of last year’s semi finalists & the relegated team from senior will be drawn in separate Sections. Sect A Caulry & Milltownpass Sect B Castletown Finea/Coole/Whitehall & Ballynacaragy and open draw thereafter.
Concluding stages of Senior & Intermediate Championship
Top team from each group qualifies for Semi Final
Second and Third team in each group qualifies for Quarter Finals.
Semi Finals in Senior & Intermediate Championships
Top team Division A v (Winners) 2nd team Section B v 3rd team Section A
Top team Division B v (Winners) 2nd team Section A v 3rd team Section B
Relegation:
Bottom team in each group play off and the losing side will be relegated to Intermediate & Junior status respectively.
Junior Football Championship:
Two Sections. The Sole junior Clubs will be Sect A and the remainder in Sect B. First round drawn for both Groups.
The concluding stages of the Junior Football Championship Top 2 Teams in Sect A to Semi Finals,
1 v A, 2 v B.
(A) Team 2 in Group 2 to play Team 3 in Group 1.
(B) Team 1 in Group 2 to play Team 4 in Group 1.
Sole Junior Clubs: Ballycomoyle, Delvin, Loughnavalley, Milltown, Moate All Whites, Multyfarmam, St. Josephs, St. Pauls, Kilbeggan Shamrocks.
Full Championship regulations apply. Winner of the Junior Championship promoted to Intermediate for 2015.
Note *** For the purpose of qualification rule 6.23 will be used to determine placings, however, if teams 3 & 4 following the application of the above rule finish on equal points, the committee reccomends playoff’s to be used to determine the outcome. No team will be eliminated from the competitions based on the head to head result or scoring difference.***
Fé 21 Championship:
One competition 15 aside, Open draw, knock-out.
The Committee recommends that there be no 13 aside competiton in 2014.
The Committee recommends also that the existing exclusive juvenile clubs take part in the 15 aside competitions. Amalgamations will be considered for this competition subject to approval by the CCC.
All County Leagues:
All County Leagues Division 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be as per 2013, Divisions 5, 6, and 7 will be 13 aside competitions with the option to play 15 aside subject to both clubs agreeing, with the relevant promotion and relegation adjustments made.
Cup Competitions: To commence in January prior to Leagues.
Feis Cup
Open to all 12 clubs participating in the senior championship, 4 groups of 3; League Basis, Gropus and draw to be drawn by CCC.
Semi finals: (A) Winners of Group 1 v Winners of Group 4 & (B) Winners of Group 2 v Winners of Group 3.
Final: A v B
Intermediate Cup
Open to all 12 clubs participating in the intermediate championship, 4 groups of 3; League Basis, Gropus and draw to be drawn by CCC.
Semi finals: (A) Winners of Group 1 v Winners of Group 4 & (B) Winners of Group 2 v Winners of Group 3.
Final: A v B
Junior Cup:
Open to all 9 sole Junior clubs participating in the junior championship, 3 groups of 3; League Basis, Gropus and draw to be drawn by CCC. 3 second place teams to playoff for fourth semi-final spot.
Semi finals: (A) Winners of Group 1 v Winners of Group 3 & (B) Winners of Group 2 v Winners of Playoff of second place teams.
Final: A v B
Senior B
For Senior Clubs only – Open draw League basis top two to qualify for final. One or Two divisions depending on number of enteries recieved, CCC to decide when making the draw. If one division top Team to have home advantage in Final, else draw to decide home advantage. The Competition to be ran in conjunction with the Junior Football Championship.
Junior B
For Intermediate & Junior Clubs and third team of Senior Clubs. Open draw League basis top two to qualify for final. One or Two divisions depending on number of enteries recieved, CCC to decide when making the draw. If one division top Team to have home advantage in Final, else draw to decide home advantage. The Competition to be ran during the summer Months.
Note *** All Players except the named players in the various grades can compete in the Senior B and Junior B Competitions. ***
Junior Shield
For the four sole junior clubs who do not qualify for the concluding stages of the junior football championship. Knock out.
It is important that all Clubs indicate a.s.a.p what competitions they are entering, and no later than Monday 6th January 2014.
Naming of players for Championship:
Senior Clubs have to name 12 Players, for senior clubs entering the Junior championship propper they shall name a further 12 players, for Leagues purposes the first 12 named players are eligible to play first team only. The 24 players now named shall not be eligible to play junior championship propper. Intermediate Clubs to name 12 Players, Junior Clubs to name 10 Players also.
Extra time: To be played in the following, Replays, all playoff games, all rounds including the Final of the Fé 21, Senior “B”, Junior “B”, Feis Cup, Intermediate Cup & Junior Cup games (10 mins each half, if still level, followed by a further 5 mins)
The absence of County Players is not an acceptable reason for the postponement of League game
Senior Hurling Championship:
1 groups of 8 teams League Basis seven rounds, Open draw
Castlepollard, Clonkill, Castletown Geo, Delvin, St. Oliver Plunketts, Crookedwood, Lough Lene Gaels, Raharney.
Concluding stages:
Semi Finals: 1 v 4 & 2 v 3
Relegation: Bottom two teams play off and the losing side will be relegated to Intermediate for 2015.
Intermediate Hurling Championship:
1 groups of 10 teams League Basis Nine rounds, Open draw
Brownstown, Cullion, St. Brigid’s, Fr. Daltons, Ringtown, Turin, Southern Gaels, plus second teams of Senior Clubs. Clonkill, Raharney & Castletown Geoghegan
Semi Finals top four teams 1 v 4, & 2 v 3
Winner promoted to Senior for 2015 if sole intermediate club.
Relegation: No Relegation
Note *** For the purpose of qualification rule 6.23 will be used to determine placings, however, if teams 4 & 5 following the application of the above rule finish on equal points, the committee reccomends playoff’s to be used to determine the outcome. No team will be eliminated from the competitions based on the head to head result or scoring difference.***
Junior Championship:
Junior A
13 a side
League system – 1 division Open draw
Castlepollard, Clonkill, St. Oliver Plunketts, LL Gaels, Raharney, Crookedwood, Southern Gaels.
Semi Finals 1 v 4, 2 v 3
Bottom team relegated to Junior B in 2015
Junior B
13 a side
League system – 1 division Open draw
Ringtown, Cullion, Turin, Fr. Daltons, Brownstown, Delvin, St. Brigid’s
Semi Finals 1 v 4, 2 v 3.
Winner promoted to Junior A in 2015
Fé 21 Championship:
One competition 15 aside, Open draw, knock-out.
To be ran during summer months
Leagues:
All County Leagues Division 1, 2, 3 will be as per 2013, Divisions 4 & 5 will be 13 aside, competitions with the option to play 15 aside, subject to both clubs agreeing, with the relevant promotion and relegation adjustments made.
Feis Cup:
Open to all 8 clubs participating in the senior championship,
1 group; Open Draw
Knockout,
Intermediate Cup:
Open to all 7 sole Intermediate clubs,
1 group; Open Draw
Knockout,
Naming of Players:
Senior clubs to name 12 players, for senior clubs entering the Intermediate championship propper the must name a further 5 players and any other player who plays in the Senior Championship.
Senior Clubs entering Intermediate & Junior Championship name 17 & 7 respectively,
Intermediate Clubs – Name 10 players.
Extra time (10 mins each half)
To be played in the following; Replays, all playoff games, all rounds including the Final of the Fé21. All Cup Competitions, all League Finals, Semi Finals, and Finals of JHC
GAA National Club Draw:
Following a proposal from the National Financial Management Committee it has been agreed to run a draw for Clubs as outlined below. The National Financial Management Committee sees this as an opportunity for Central Council to assist Clubs in their fund-raising.
Tickets are €10 each and are printed in books of 10 and each Club will retain the proceeds of the tickets sold by their Club . Each club will initially be allocated 50 books of tickets.
The structure of the Draw is as follows for participating clubs:
1. Tickets are €10 each and are printed in books of 10.
2. Prizes will be provided by Ard Chomhairle as outlined below.
3. Each Club can obtain 50 books of tickets (500 tickets) initially and can apply for more if required. Maximum number of tickets per club 2,000.
4. Each Club will retain the proceeds of the tickets sold by their Club.
5. The ticket stubs and all unsold tickets for each club must then be returned to the GAA National Finance Office by Friday 7th March, 2014 together with a list of Subscribers
6. Please note that Clubs cannot purchase the tickets themselves
7. Please note the draw is subject to terms and conditions
8. Tickets are available for collection by designated County representatives on Saturday, 14th December, 2013 from 10.00am to 2.00pm.
9. Participation in the Draw is not compulsory.
The Prizes for the draw are as follows;
1. Trip to the 2014 International Rules series in Australia. (2 persons. Match tickets, airline tickets & accommodation.)
2. The Ultimate Football package 2014. (2 persons. All-Ireland Football Final tickets, All-Stars banquet & tour tickets to Boston.)
3. 2 Corporate Box concert tickets with pre-concert hospitality in Croke Park in 2014.
4. Travel voucher to the value of €1,500.
5. All-Ireland Football Final package 2014. (2 persons. Corporate Box tickets, corporate hospitality & 2 nights accommodation.)
6. All-Ireland Hurling Final package 2014. (2 persons. Corporate Box tickets, corporate hospitality & 2 nights accommodation.)
7. Shopping voucher to the value of €1,000 at a retailer of your choice.
8. All-Ireland Football & Hurling Final package 2014. (2 Premium tickets & overnight accommodation for both.)
9. 2 Croke Park Premium concert tickets in 2014.
10. Trip to New York for St. Patrick's Day 2015.
(2 persons. Airline tickets & 3 Nights accommodation)Maximum of 2,000 tickets per GAA ClubOpportunity for your GAA Club to raise up to €20,000
All funds raised will be retained by your GAA Club
Draw takes place on Monday 17 March 2014
at Páirc an Chrócaigh
For further details, terms and conditions see www.gaa.ie/nationalclubdraw