Delegates to debate proposals

Meath hurling club delegates will have an opportunity to make some major changes to the 2011 SHC at next Monday night's special meeting at Teach na Teamhrach, 8.0. Next year's race for the Jubilee Cup could be seeded with the top six teams fighting it out for four places in the knock-out phase. The six remaining SHC teams will be graded in a B championship with the top two qualifying for the quarter-finals. There would also be a crossover between the two groups to determine relegation. There are also a number of other combinations which would provide more qualifying places for the knock-out phase of the competition. However, the main thrust of the proposal, from the Hurling Promotion and Development Committee, is to grade the teams which would produce very competitive groups without denying the teams in the B section an opportunity to win the Jubilee Cup. Based on the 2010 SHC the grading for 2011 could be: Group A - Kildalkey, Killyon, Kiltale, Kilmessan, Dunboyne, Trim with four to qualify. Group B - Drumree, Clann na nGael, Longwood, Navan O'Mahonys, Gaeil Colmcille, Na Fianna with two to qualify. There is a similar proposal to incorporate IHC A and B groups. The JHC and Div 2 HC could also be altered. This proposal for the SHC was suggested in a Meath Chronicle 'Square Ball' column two years ago. Meath GAA club delegates will also have to make a decision about the shape of the Co Committee for 2011 with the annual convention looming on Sunday 12th December. It is understood that a motion from Simonstown Gaels proposes the introduction of a chief executive-style position, a full-time role, to streamline the affairs at all levels. Outgoing Co Committee chairman Barney Allen faces the prospects of a contest with six nominees set to oppose the Rathkenny man. Liam Keane, Eugene Comaskey, Conor Tormey, Paddy O'Dwyer, Cathal Joyce and Brendan Dempsey are all nominated. The race for the vice-chair has former Meath footballer Colm O'Rourke nominated along with Comaskey, Joyce, Tormey, Peter O'Halloran, Paddy O'Dwyer and Allen. Former referee Jimmy Henry has been nominated for assistant-secretary along with Brendan Cummins.  There will be at least one new face on the Leinster Council as O'Dwyer is not eligible under the five-year rule, but he is expected to contest the Central Council position. Rathkenny's Edmund Curtis could be a contender for the Leinster seat with outgoing delegate Brendan Dempsey.