Motion to revert minor grades carried at Convention

A CLG Ard an Rátha sponsored motion calling for the reintroduction of underage grades from U-14 through to U-18 was carried at Convention. 

The motion which was moved by club chairman John McConnell stated: “A county shall determine its internal underage grades for competition purposes within the parameter of U-21 down to U-11, subject to the stipulation that competitions at U-14, U-16 and U-18 must take place within each county together with one further underage competition above the U-18 grade. The rest of the rule to remain unchanged.”  

Mr McConnell said that the GAA centrally had “lost the dressing room on this issue. “This was foisted on us a few years ago by Croke Park and it nearly gets worse week on week. There are a number of counties with similar type motions for Congress. 

“Cork have decided to go for an U-18 age group but are decoupling the players at that age which means they still can’t play adult football which we do not agree with. That would be an absolute disaster for Donegal clubs. 

“What we are asking is that Donegal should be allowed to decide their own competitions. I don’t know what is going to happen in Congress, but we want to go back to the old U-14, U-16 and U-18 age groups. 

“There was not a lot wrong with the old system. We lost eight players last year when the age group changed to U-17. There is just too big of a gap between U-17 and U-20 and it will affect small rural clubs even more.”

He added: “We know that every fellow that plays minor will go on to play senior but this has fast tracked young fellows to early retirement. 

“There is a hybrid motion for Congress, which might work whereby players who reach 18 will be allowed to play adult football with no player playing an adult game within 60 hours of the minor game. 

“When you get them to 18, some of them might be good enough for the senior team and then you can ease them into reserve football which means they are not lost to the game. They get to play with experienced players, and it is a good learning situation for them”. 

The motion was carried unanimously on a show of hands. 

Elsewhere, Letterkenny Gaels submitted four motions on the night calling for a hurling officer to be elected/appointed to sit on the county executive and to increase hurling representation from one to two members. 

Gaels delegate Stephen Doherty said it would be a strong voice for hurling on the executive at a time when the game was making real strides in Donegal. 

CCC Secretary Ed Byrne queried the role of the officer vis a vis an already existing hurling committee. Mr Doherty, who proposed and moved the motion, said this was a separate matter. 

County Secretary Declan Martin said the Hurling Officer could only be elected to that post at a special convention but this could be held in January. When the motions were put to the floor, they were carried unanimously.