Changes to football championships proposed

It looks as if there will be plenty of challenges for all the top positions on the Meath Co Board at Convention in Navan O’Mahonys on Monday 7th December with Coaching Officer Eamonn Barry the only current incumbent nominated unopposed and there are also proposal afoot to change the structures of the football championships.
It was suggested a number of years ago that clubs should only nominate people who have confirmed to them that they would be interested in running for a position on the Co Board so it is fair to assume that every person nominated will leave their hats in the ring.
With Barry also nominated for the role of chairman and vice-chairman his position as Coaching Officer would become vacant if he were to win election to either of the other roles.
Irish officer Micheal Gallagher is the only current member of the Co Board whose five-year term is up and so a new face will be required for that position with Andy Fahy (Ratoath), Brendan Cummins (Dunsany), Cathal Seoighe (Clann na nGael), Aidan Jordan (Wolfe Tones), Jim Condra (Kilmainhamwood), Richard Harrahill (Dunsany) and Dessie Murtagh (St Ultan’s) all in the running to replace him.
Most of the top positions are likely to remain unchanged, but there could be a few interesting battles at Convention with strong candidates nominated for the Central Council and Leinster Council roles.
There will also be a number of motions and regulations to be discussed and voted on at the Convention, most notably a proposal from Drumconrath to restructure the SFC, IFC, JFC and Junior B FC.

The proposal from Drumconrath is

That Regulation 3 (b) and 4 (b) be amended as follows. (Senior, Intermediate, Junior A &
Junior B Championships).
There shall be 18 teams in 3 divisions. Based on 2016 group championship standings.
Groups will be seeded on the basis of their final standing on the completion of the group stages of the 2016 championship results and drawn as follows:

1. For the 2017 Championship
(a) Top 4 teams in each of the 3 groups in 2106 are drawn out first in two groups A & B (6 teams in each) for the 2017 championship.
(b) Top 3 teams in Groups A & B and the top 2 teams in Group C after five rounds of the group stages will qualify for the quarter finals of the 2017 championship.
(c) Bottom 2 teams in Groups A, B & C after 5 rounds of the group stages in 2016 championship are placed in Group C for 2017, with the exception that the relegated team, following the relegation play off (format as in 2015) will be relegated to the
lower championship. The 6th place in group C will be the winners of the lower championship.

2. 2017 (and following years) Championships
(a) The top 3 teams in Groups A & B and the top 2 teams in Group C, after the group stage, will qualify for the Quarter Finals of the Championship. (8 Teams)
(b) The teams that finish in 5th and 6th positions in Groups A, B & C in 2016 less the relegated team, plus the lower grade championship winner (6 teams) are drawn in Group C for the following years competition
(c) Top two teams after 5 rounds of the Group Stages in Group C qualify for the Quarter Finals each year and for the following year’s competition are drawn in Group A or B, as determined by draw process.
(d) The teams finishing bottom of Group C after 5 rounds of the group stages are relegated to the next lowest Championship grade for the following year.

Groups to be drawn in rotation and knockâ€out draws are predetermined.
(1) A1 v C2, (2) B1 v C1, (3) A2 v B3, (4) B2 V A3. Semi Finals 1 v 4, 2 v 3.

 

LIST OF NOMINATIONS
CHAIRMAN
Conor Tormey, Donaghmore/Ashbourne (Outgoing)
Peter O’Halloran, Drumconrath
Eamon Barry, Walterstown
VICE CHAIRPERSON
Peter O’Halloran, Drumconrath (Outgoing)
Eamon Barry, Walterstown
John Kavanagh, St. Ultan’s
Dessie Murtagh, St. Ultan’s
SECRETARY
Francis Flynn, Seneschalstown (Outgoing)
Mairead Delaney, Dunshaughlin
ASSISTANT SECRETARY
Mairead Delaney, Dunshaughlin (Outgoing)
Barney Allen, Rathkenny
Michael Gallagher, Drumconrath
TREASURER
Brendan Dempsey, Trim (Outgoing)
Jim Mullery, Slane
ASSISTANT TREASURER
Jim Mullery, Slane (Outgoing)
Brendan Dempsey, Trim
Barney Allen, Rathkenny
Noel Dempsey, Trim
ARD CHOMHAIRLE REPRESENTATIVE
Paddy Kelly, Kiltale (Outgoing)
Brendan Dempsey, Trim
John Kavanagh, St. Ultan’s
Noel Dempsey, Trim
Barney Allen, Rathkenny
Francis Lynch, Kiltale
LEINSTER COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES X 2
Brendan Cummins, Dunsany (Outgoing)
Brian Carberry, St. Vincent’s (Outgoing)
Francis Lynch, Kiltale
Dessie Murtagh, St. Ultan’s
Conor Tormey, Donaghmore/Ashbourne
Barney Allen, Rathkenny
PRO
Martin O’Halloran, Rathmolyon (Outgoing)
Ann McDonnell, Summerhill
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Jason Plunkett, Clonard (Outgoing)
Jim Mullery, Slane
Michael Bennett, Navan O’Mahony’s
IRISH OFFICER
Andy Fahy, Ratoath
Brendan Cummins, Dunsany
Cathal Seoighe, Clan na nGael
Aidan Jordan, Wolfe Tones
Jim Condra, Kilmainhamwood
Richard Harrahill, Dunsany
Dessie Murtagh, St. Ultan’s
COACHING OFFICER
Eamon Barry, Walterstown (Outgoing)