Messages

Any word on what the underage structure is this year?  Is it sticking with U14's/U16's or moving to 13's/15's?

Age groups for 2020

Following central councils adoption of the "Academy Report" in June 2019, a direction was issued by An Ard Stiúrthóir on 2nd October 2019.

In that correspondence the Ard Stiúrthóir confirmed that the " Association Policy" was to change the age groups  to u13.u15 and u17 for 2020, but noted that other grades  i.e. 14, 16, and 18  could be allowed subject to prior approval from Central council.

Given that this is a policy and not a rule confusion exists thought-out the country

Its anticipated that a range of motions will be put to congress in Feb 2020 setting the 13,15 and 17 age groups into rule commencing Jan 2021 ( it's highly unlikely that they could be delivered any earlier as most counties will have competition schedules in place by the time congress meets in Feb 2020).

The County Chairman, Ciarán Mc Cavana, has been taking soundings  from both inside and outside the county over the last few weeks.

Based on that engagement  Antrim GAA will be retaining  the current u14 u16 and u18 age grades for 2020 .

Next year that 17 Yr old will be able to play Sen/Res but not u21 this year, only in antrim, muppets

Not only in Antrim but in all counties.

Any such thing as getting a firestick with an Ethernet port rather that relying on WiFi?

Yes there is an adapter you can buy here or check ebay etc for cheaper copies

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amazon-Ethernet-Adaptor-Remote-models/dp/B01LXP5TXI

Following a meeting this morning between representatives of the Antrim County Committee, Ulster GAA and Belfast City Council (certifying authority) it has agreed that Corrigan Park can host the All-Ireland qualifier game v Kildare on 22 June.

It will be an all ticket game with a capacity on the day of 2,122. 

Na Magha are playing all Antrim league games away from home in 2019 as a result of an investigation into one of their home league games last season - penalty from CCC

Div 1 & 2 Fball leagues remain with the split as per last couple of years.

Hurling leagues were changed at last night's County Committee meeting.

Div 1 & 2 will now be 10 teams and split in two after round 1 as per Div 1 & 2 Football leagues.

Promotion / relegation playoff introduced instead of 2 up 2 down.  eg. 2nd bottom Div 1 v 2nd in Div 2.

Football leagues remain same and the same arrangements for promotion / relegation introduced.

[1) We are a small club, a club with membership with massive commitment, but a small club none the less.]

CSC the line in bold may have been true at one stage back in the 90s perhaps, but i'm guessing on the scale of Antrim clubs based on membership Creggan sit well up there with the larger clubs and i'd say have more membership than Cargin these days.

If you look further North into the Glens you'll see what a true small club is in terms of both membership and playing numbers!

I see that the Derry SFC final is scheduled for the same day - that could affect attendance.

You think the Cargin ones will go to the Derry final instead? 

Both Cargin and Creggan (and both Managers) have the strong backbone of Derry education.  You would probably be surprised at the amount of people disgruntled with the two finals being on the same day

don't be worrying about the managers turning up as they are paid mercenaries - sad to see these big clubs with big memberships and tradition going down the mercenary road

Not too many of the 'Big Clubs' in Antrim that have not used mercenaries in the past few years.  Certainly not an ideal situation but its probably a typical situation in most big clubs around Ireland. The odd 'club member' manager scattered around is a relative scarcity.

The big managerial merrygoround will continue onwards. Neither Cargin's nor Creggan's managers will be sitting with their feet up next year regardless of whether Cargin or Creggan release them from service at the end of the season.

The bigger question is how to stop it as it is fairly endemic now

From a Creggan point of view
1) We are a small club, a club with membership with massive commitment, but a small club none the less.
2) Managers, the club spent the majority of the 70's, 80, 90's in the lower leagues, and the majority of the playing personnel all had that playing experience. The last three internal managers Creggan had, Sean Maguire (intercounty experience), Peadar Totten (intercounty experience), Gerard Dougan (Div 1 and 2 experience). Outside of these guys, the players with intercounty experience either wanted to focus on underage, or had emigrated to foreign lands.
In the late 90's early 00's the club realized we had really good young potential, but didn't have managers with the experience to take us to the next level at senior level
3) The club focused on ensuring we had really good underage coaching structure (3 per team), and looked external for senior management
4) Players who brought the club up into Div 1 and stayed there, and who rep the county at underage senior, are now coaching underage teams within the club. The natural progression will be these lads coaching the senior team in the next 10+ years

Each club has to make decisions on what is best approach for their club to make sure their potential is maximized. Creggan took an approach that was intended to break a cycle of Div 2 status, and propel the club into senior status. On this point alone, the strategy has worked

Can the Zgemma boxes pause/rewind/record etc from IPTV?  Also so they have a better EPG than the SmartIPTV app?

Sad news out of the SW this morning on the sudden passing of John O'Boyle RIP.  Deepest sympathy to his family. 

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Neither vote was that close in the end despite the campaigning.

RIP 5 Sams. Condolences to family & friends.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1

That the incoming CCC consider duals clubs with County players on Hurling/ Football panels when fixing club games in the opposing code. A degree of flexi ability is shown to club's who have players playing with the County on the same day as club league games have been fixed and allow time change/ date change of club games were possible.

2

That, given the overwhelming majority of players are in favour of change, in the 2018 season the CCC initiate a pilot scheme to move 3-6 Adult league fixture rounds from a Sunday to a Friday evening.

Because they are only recommendations, there is no onus to implements any of them even if passed.

MOTIONS
1.
O'Donnell's GAC would like to make an amendment to the County Bye-law 19.1.C from

A player who has played with a club at any grade from under 12 to under 18 (minor) grades in Championship or League may only transfer to another club if the player's family residence has changed to the catchment area of the club he wishes to be transferred to.

To Read
A player who has played with a club at any grade from under 12 to under 16 grades in Championship or League may only transfer to another club if the player's family residence has changed to the catchment area of the club he wishes to be transferred to.

2.
O'Donnell's would like to add the following to Bye Law 19.2

Any player returning to their club after having had a playing permission the previous year cannot seek a transfer for the coming year provided their parent club is fielding a team at the respective age group in which the payer is eligible to play.

3.
To grant CCC unilateral power to rearrange fixtures where a previously
unforeseen clash of league and championship fixtures across codes would
otherwise lead to one or more teams being treated unfairly.

4.
That the All County Minor (or Under 17 if applicable) football league revert back to the divisional boards.

5.
St Brigids GAC wish to replace the current Ulster GAA bye-law relating to the provincial Club Hurling Championships to read as follows:

To participate in the Ulster Hurling Club Championship at any level (with the current exception of Lisbellaw). A club must have taken part in a club championship within their own County in the competition year.
A Club that has previously won an Intermediate or Junior Championship shall not participate for one year at the grade after their previous win.
A county board must apply to Comhairle Uladh for regrading if necessary.


RECOMMENDATIONS

Not worth the paper they are written on.

Narcos 3 was released on Netflix yesterday anyone had a peek yet? Not sure how it'll work without Pablo.

Series 3 was fantastic.  Lack of Pablo didn't let it down in the slightest.