Two-third majority remains following NEFL meeting
Motions to abolish the two-thirds majority system for voting in favour of a simple majority plus four system failed to get the two-thirds majority required at last Tuesday evening's NEFL annual meeting in the Ardboyne Hotel Navan.
The motion, which was proposed by Duleek and seconded by Bailieboro celtic, secured a majority 25-22 vote, but because the margin had to be two-thirds the motion was lost.
The well attended meeting which had only nine absentees (Black Bull, Electro Celtic, Enfield Celtic, Glenmuir Utd, Lourdes Celtic, Newfoundwell, Rathmullen Celtic, Square Utd and Virginia Celtic) sparked plenty of excellent debate with several new motions passed.
The majority of the motions passed were in relation to the number of games a player can play for the first team without requiring regrading for a second or third team.
A motion proposed by Ardee Celtic that ‘Any club with three or more teams, and whose players have made eight first team appearances shall only be selected to the next graded team. EG - any player who has made eight first team appearances and last game was with a first team must drop to the club's second team before dropping to the thirds' was passed, although several clubs abstained from the vote.
The law limiting the maximum number of first team players to play for the reserve team at any given time to three was also passed by a 40-7 margin.
There were also several other motions passed regarding the arranging of fixtures, the accumulation of yellow cards and the decision when to postpone a game because of unplayable conditions.
Opening his secretary's report to the meeting Gerry Gorman believes that the economy is turning and the ability of clubs to raise funds, in comparison to recent years, is improving and helping sustain the playing of the game in the area.
However Gorman believes that the work of many is being left to too few and causing many teams to fold due to a severe lack of helping hands.
'Thankfully 12 months later there are visible signs of an improvement in this area (the economy) with numerous positive examples of clubs having organised themselves to a point where sufficient support was forthcoming,' Gorman stated.
'The lack of collective responsibility is still very much evident as there are far too many leaving the responsibility to too few, and alarmingly as we have seen in a lot of instances this season, bringing about some hard decisions to withdraw teams, in some cases with very little chance of resurrecting the situation in the near future.'
'During the course of the season, for one reason or another, several clubs did not complete their fixture schedule. Very alarming three of the teams involved competed in the top two divisions, and will likely not be re-applying for the next campaign and they include Harmon Rangers (Div 2), Electro Celtic (Div 3),Rathmullen Celtic (Div 3), Drogheda-Marsh Crescent (Div 4) and Reserve League sides Bohermeen Celtic and Rathmullen Celtic.'
Gorman also had special words of praise for some of the clubs that represented the NEFL in national and provincial competition and he acknowledgfed the intense competition that exists in the NEFL.
'On the field of play the various exploits of Navan Cosmos should be congratulated in particular getting to the last four in the Leinster Junior Cup, losing to eventual winners Collinstown, along with a credible last 16 place in the FAI Junior Cup, and a never to be forgotten 2-0 win away to the all conquering Sheriff YC in the Leinster Senior Cup.
'Bellurgan, Duleek, and Newfoundwell also achieved some great runs to reach advanced stages of the national and provincial competitions, all in all a clear message the standards of junior adult football within the north east is comparable with any other area the country has to offer.
'Unlike the majority of leagues, where at most three teams have dominated the top honours over the past number of years, the enormous strength in depth can be gauged with Muirhevnamor becoming the fifth different side in as many seasons to secure the Premier Division title, and Navan Cosmos the seventh to do so in the Tully Bookmakers Challenge Cup.'
The 2017/2018 NEFL committee: chairman - David Tully; secretary/treasurer - Gerry Gorman; fixtures secretary - Declan Jordan; PRO - Tommy Melia; registrar - Damien Smith; committee - Derek Coogan, John Gorman, Eugene Lynch, Danny Doyle, Stephen McCabe,Brian McCreary, Mark McGuinness, Damien Clarke, Steve Laverty.
The 2016/17 NEFL full honours list includes (runners up in brackets)
LEAGUES
Premier - Muirhevnamor (Newfoundwell); Div 1 – OMP United (Black Bull); Div 2 – Rangers FC (Kells-Blackwater); Div 3 – Virginia Celtic (Albion Rovers); Div 4 – Skryne-Tara, (Park Celtic Summerhill); Premier Res – Duleek, (Newfoundwell); Premier A Res – Kingscourt Harps 3rds, (Navan Town); Over 35s – Doolargey Celtic, (Albion Rovers).
CUPS
Challenge Cup – Navan Cosmos, (Bellurgan United); Kilmessan Shield - Quay Celtic (Bellurgan United); Fitzsimons Cup – Carrick Rovers (Bailieboro Celtic); O'Neill Shield – Park Celtic Summerhill (Virginia Celtic); Reserve Cup – Ardee Celtic 2nds (Kingscourt Harps 3rds); Gerry Reilly Cup – Ardee Celtic 2nds (Park Celtic Summerhill); Over 35s Cup - Parkvilla (Carrick Rovers).