Messages

[Galbally/pomeroy/edendork will be a tough play off final]

A win on Sunday doesn't really do anything for them does it in terms of avoiding even the play offs? Galbally/pomeroy/edendork will be a tough play off final match too if they get as far as that stage. As RedHand says they are in serious bother. There'll be some inquests in Clonoe if they do suffer relegation.

There is Gortin's motivation for the play-offs

Confirmed that the 2023 season will be three divisions as is. Top position in league wins league and is promoted. Championship winner is promoted. Bottom two teams are relegated. No playoffs.

Well that sucks - the indication given at the start of the league was that there would be play-offs. Given our current form, I'd have been looking at us aiming to finish in a promotion play-off spot i.e. top 6. But now there's no point bothering about the league. Only games involving Stewartstown, Aghaloo & Strabane now realistically matter in Division 3, for everyone else it's eight more rounds of league games to warm up for the championship.

Where did you see this confirmation? I was also understanding playoffs would return if retention of 3 divisions.

Has anyone heard about the outcome of the ACL restructuring proposals for 2023 onwards? Deadline for clubs to reply was Friday 18th March - 3 weeks tomorrow.
The silence on fixtures and ACL proposals is deafening.

We are 5 weeks out from the proposed start date of league football on 6th May - Still no sign of fixtures. Is there even a master plan?
Is this been held up by Greencastle fiasco? Or Tyrone extended squad to be reduced for star fixtures?

always thought it was embarrassing for teams to be appealing over an underage player playing.

Ironically Greencastle had a dispute with Moortown over an underage player in an u21 final many years ago - Any Mals men able to confirm?

If Aghyaran are successful in any form of appeal it will open a can of worms in Division 2. If the lad concerned played against any other team and those games had a direct bearing on the teams relegated (which it's bound to if he did play) they will also appeal I'm sure. Could be about to get very messy if true.

Or County Biard will just dismiss any appeals knowing the shit show that could follow...

There is a 3 day time limit on objections based on the validity of a team.

I was basing my reply of Tyrone11234s post. If what you're saying is true then that's that, too late to do anything about any indiscretion now.

So basically any club can break any of the rules and hope that the opposing club does not report them within 3 days?
They done it more than once and knew what they were doing!
So much for a club's integrity when that is their approach!

Any truth in Aghyaran making an appeal to county board over greencastle allegedly playing an under age player in a senior league game?

Not 100% sure on the rule for age going into a senior team. A player who is either still minor or not long out of it played part in the last league game vs Kildress from what I've heard. Be interesting to see how it fairs out if true but don't think Greencastle would have played him if that was the case

Below from GAA Official Guide (Unless Tyrone have a separate By-Law which is unlikely).
"6.17 Age Grades
CLUB
Adult:
A Player shall have celebrated his 17th birthday prior to January 1st of the Championship Year.

Penalties:
For breach of upper Age limit:
(i) Team Penalty:
On a Proven Objection – Award of Game to Opposing Team.
On an Inquiry by the Committee-in-Charge - Forfeiture of
Game without Award to the Opposing Team.
(ii) Player:
For breach in Under 16 or Younger Grades – 4 weeks
Suspension.
For breach in Minor or Under 21 Grades – 24 weeks
Suspension.
(iii) Person(s)-in-Charge of the Team in which the
breach is committed – 48 weeks Suspension.
(iv) Chairperson and Secretary of a Club:
For breach in Minor or Under 21 Grades – 48 weeks
Suspension.
For Breach of lower Age Limit:
(i)Team Penalty:
On a Proven Objection – Award of Game to Opposing Team.
On an Inquiry by the Committee-in-Charge – Forfeiture of
Game without Award to the Opposing Team.
(ii) Player: For breach in any Grade – 2 weeks Suspension.
(iii) Person(s)-in-Charge of the Team in which the
breach is committed – 8 weeks Suspension. "

By my understanding, if the lad played minor football (u17) in 2021, then he is not eligible to play senior football in 2021.
County Board have a big decision to make here - Whatever their decision, it will surely set a precedent.

Why are Edendork conceding games left right and centre? An absolute disgrace for a senior club.
Surely there should be some sanctions for conceding so often in the same season!
Embarrassing.

3 games conceded with 2 rounds remaining.
Deduct a point for each game conceded for the start of the following season, that'll deter teams as fines are no good.

This is direct from the 2021 CCC regulations.
28. Failure to field / fulfil a fixture:
I) The penalty for a team failing to fulfil an CCC fixture will be award of the game to the
opposition
II) Failure to field in two consecutive matches in the same season will leave the team
liable to disqualification from that competition for the rest of the season
III) The penalty for a team failing to fulfil a championship or league playoff fixture will
be the forfeiture of the game

So technically Edendork are already disqualified, but how does that deter them or others doing it in future?
Edendork will likely drop to Intermediate, push for a title, back to senior, and repeat the same fiasco.
Unfortunately, by not fielding they are possibly affecting the outcome of other clubs in the relegation battle

December, January and February would be all that most club players would want, players love playing and training you know, that's why most of them do it! If they know they have them 3 months off then they can go and plan things for those 3 months.

Going forward I think the coming season will be used to get the split right for the 4 division plan that was passed at county committee level and would have been in now only for covid. When that comes in it's 4 divisions of 12, each team plays 22 league games (play each team home and away), 11 starred which will be played while county season is ongoing and 11 unstarred which will go from mid July and be wrapped up before championship. I think the starred games should be weighted points wise (I.e 2 for winning a starred game and 3 for an unstarred game) but either way plenty of games from the start of May with championship in late Sept to mid November and 3+ months break after that, will be a great system

Surely that 4x12 system isn't required now with the split season at National level? I assume there's been no mention of it because the idea's been dropped.

It was only suggested to deal with the circumstances at the time, which have now changed.

I would have thought all the more reason for it with split season. The big problem that turned up in the survey and workshops that all players done at that time was not enough games so it's a no brainier

Will there be 11 weekends to finish the league before starting the club championship when the AI club is going to finish in the Calendar year? If there is then the 4 x 12s would be a great system.

I have heard that after this season, the county players are not prepared to allow anymore starred fixtures. Understandable when you consider there is possibly 9 county players relegated to Division 2 for 2022 (Eglish 1, Pomeroy 3, Galbally 2, Edendork 3), with the 9 starred games surely a massive factor .

If true that the All-Ireland Final is last week of July, and the club split season is introduced properly, organise the league cups as "pre-season" during June and July (Clubs to opt in/out). Reintroduce the 4 x 12 divisions, playing each team once so 11 league fixtures, beginning the 1st weekend in August (Latest start date – Depending on Tyrone).

If starred fixtures remain, the 1st 11 rounds can be played prior to Tyrone exiting the Championship, so starting early May, which still includes 2 week summer break.

Top in Division 1B, 2 and 3 would be promoted, to Division 1A, 1B and 2 respectively.
Bottom 2 in Division 1A, 1B and 2 would be relegated to Division 1B, 2 and 3 respectively.

The Championship would be dictated by your previous seasons finish so made up as follows:
•   Senior - 12 Division 1A teams & top 4 Division 1B (Including Senior & Intermediate Champions)
•   Intermediate – Bottom 8 Division 1B & top 8 Division 2 (Including Junior Champions)
•   Junior – Bottom 4 Division 2 & all Division 3

Using previous seasons league finish to dictate championship grade will also ensure the competitive nature of league football in Division 1B and 2 at least. Without introducing seeding, or playoffs, it is hard to implement the competitive nature for Division 1A and 3.

There is a serious gulf in talent between the top 8-12 teams in Tyrone club football with the rest of the county.
Reintroducing the 4 x 12 Divisions allows the top 8-12 to battle it out amongst each other in the league, with less cricket scores, whilst also allowing weaker teams to find their own standard at Division 1B, 2 or 3 and have the opportunity to enter the Championship in the Grade above.

11 League Games & Championship – Start League 1st weekend in August and finish last weekend November
22 League Games & Championship – Start League 1st weekend in May and finish last weekend November

Kezzy Corr was starting for their seniors throughout the league the year they won the championship

One player just?

I believe so - Coalisland seniors were struggling to field a reserve team at times in fact I believe the played a game with 16 players and then forfeited the next game due to lack of numbers. There should be a new rule proposed. I believe the IIIs should have a 4/5 match period before the seniors submit their players not eligible to play IIIs as the first few games could show a lot of how a player has progressed through pre season. This 4/5 game grace period would also help with injury issues than can lead to problems with numbers at reserve level.

See below extract from the 2021 Tyrone CCC Regulations. Any club with a 3rds team had until 1st July to re-grade a thirds player to the senior panel. By 1st July, all clubs had 5 games played and ample time to see who was progressing well for the thirds. Once they have played senior football, they may NOT return to thirds football however. So if Coalisland read the regulations, this should not be an issue.

"38. Where a club enters a third (and fourth) team into the adult competitions, they must name a
panel of 40 players prior to the commencement of the competition, compliant with Rule 6.2
T.O. 2021, who may not play for their third (or fourth) team.
Exceptions:
- Where a player on the 'list of 40' has not played for either the clubs first team or
reserve team before 1st July, they may be permitted to regrade to the
third/fourth team with permission of CCC.
- Where a player, not on the 'list of 40', plays for the first and/or reserve team,
they may not subsequently play for the thirds or fourths team."

With GAA training in the North allowed to commence from 12th April, all clubs will be planning (If havent already) to return to the pitch. With that in mind, any updates on below? Any big inter-club transfers the year?

Senior

Ardboe: Mickey Donnelly, Brian McIver and Brian Laverty
Carrickmore:Ryan Daly and Noel Hurson
Clonoe: Stevie McDonnell
Coalisland: Brian McGuckin
Derrylaughan: Eamon Robinson (Maghery)
Donaghmore: Barry Tracey
Dromore: Colly McCullagh and Paul McIvor
Dungannon: Christopher Rafferty
Edendork: Lorcan Martin
Eglish:Mattie McGleenan
Errigal Ciaran: Mark Harte and Adrian O'Donnell
Galbally: John Moylan
Killyclogher: Mark Henry
Loughmacrory: Martin McConnell and Ciaran Meenagh
Moy: Sean Cavanagh, Catterson, Karol McQuaid
Omagh: Larry Strain
Pomeroy: Gary O'Neill
Trillick: Nigel Seaney & Liam Donnelly

Intermediate

Aghaloo: Paul Coney
Aghyaran: Michael Anderson
Augher: Aidan Cassidy and Brian Trainor
Beragh: Ryan McCluskey
Clogher:
Gortin: Colm McGarvey and Phillip McKenna
Greencastle: Sean Teague & John Lynch
Moortown:
Naomh Eoghan: Seosamh MacCeallabhuí
Owen Roes: Paddy Campbell
Rock: Cormac McGinley
Stewartstown:
Strabane:
T***yreagh: Martin McNulty

Junior

Brackaville:
Brocagh:
Castlederg: Kevin McCrystal
Clann na nGael:
Cookstown:
Derrytresk: Paul Hughes
Drumquin:
Drumragh: Simon McGeary
Errigal Ciaran Thirds:
Eskra: Gerry Donnelly
Fintona: Paul Quinn
Glenelly: Dermot Corry
Kildress: Roger Keenan and Tony Scullion
Killeeshil: Enda Kilpatrick
Killyman:
Urney: Dougie Corbett

Are there any clubs training in bubbles? Surely club football cant be classified as elite!

Thoughts on the proposals?

A Chara,


Happy New Year to all of you. We hope that you're all safe and well.

Unfortunately we face into another year of uncertainty. The shape of the GAA calendar at national level is very unclear and appears to becoming more of a problem as time passes. The starting date of the national leagues was 27th/ 28th February and not alone is the start date now an issue but no one can say for sure if there will even be a national league in 2021. So we can all be forgiven for not being clear about what things will look like in the club calendar for 2021.

However, our job in the CCC is to devise a games programme and we want to communicate with clubs to give you some ideas on what the Tyrone GAA games calendar might look like for all our players.

Outstanding 2020 competitions 



To begin with however we must address the issue of the outstanding games in last year's competitions.

We have games outstanding in underage and adult competitions and we want to make it clear to you that we wish to conclude all competitions that had started in 2020 and were paused due to the pandemic. We aim to conclude these games at the earliest opportunity as soon as there is an indication that these games can be fixed and played. We would naturally wish to provide clubs with as much notice as possible. We thank you for your ongoing patience and understanding.

Thereafter as soon as the junior league is finalised the make-up of the 3 divisions will be clear. Assuming the 2021 junior league is complete, there will be 18 teams in division 1, 16 in division 2 and 15 in division 3.

We have gained a lot of feedback in relation to the underage structures and that has provided a lot of clarity in relation to underage games programme. Thank you to all the clubs who took time to provide your comments, some of which were quite lengthy which demonstrates the enormous appetite and interest levels for our underage games. Your feedback is much appreciated and is extremely helpful when we formulate our games programme.

Underage leagues and championships 

We will play leagues and championships at 13, 15, and 17 as required under rule. There was quite a bit of feedback in relation to the age grade above 17. A number of possible age grades were mentioned but the majority of those who replied have asked that we move to under 19s and so in 2021, Tyrone will organise an under 19 competition.

In hurling we will run the same age grades as above subject to discussion with hurling development committee.



Go Games
The large majority of clubs who provided feedback want to play at 7.5, 9.5 and 11.5.


Adult competitions


Hurling
In hurling we will subject to discussion with hurling development committee run the leagues and championships same as last year. Hurling clubs in Tyrone have been very creative when finding games external to the county and a survey conducted 2 years ago revealed that hurling clubs in Tyrone were able to give their players more games than their footballing counterparts.

Football
National GAA have indicated that there will be a split season with counties concluding their leagues and championships by mid-July. As you know inter county hurling and football teams are classed as elite and can unlike clubs proceed even under heightened restrictions apart from a lockdown.

With Covid numbers at record levels and the NHS under extreme unprecedented it is so difficult to predict when it will be safe to play games. With such uncertainty in mind we want to give you a few possible scenarios for adult club activity for the 2021 season.

4 x 12s
In January 2020 it was decided to move to 4 x 12s for football. However Covid ended this and we would suggest that with no end to Covid in sight the move to 4 x 12s will need be further postponed. To move to 4 x 12s for the 2022 season,  8 teams in division 1 would need to move to 1b and it may be deemed unfair to make this move in 2021. Therefore the assumption we use for the proposed formats as set out below are on the basis that we move back to 16 teams in divisions one and two for 2022.



Club championships 

Club championships will run on a knockout basis as usual. We are looking into an alternative to games being concluded on the basis of a penalty shootout. 



Options for Club Leagues 2021


These options all have advantages and potential drawbacks. The landscape is constantly changing and decisions will need to be made on the basis of directions received from GAA Covid committee who update regularly.

Option A
Option A would be to have full adult leagues in senior and reserves and our usual knockout championships. In divisions 1,2,3 this would mean playing 17,15 and 14 league games respectively.
Realistically in order to fit all these games in, you would have to start your leagues in late April / May and complete them end of October subject to Provincial club championships.
Championship winners and league winners (or the second placed) league team would be promoted same as last year. It would be impractical to keep adding to the numbers in the senior and intermediate leagues so in the event of going with a full league and that we delay moving the leagues to the 4 x 12 league format for 2022 and to regain the 16 team league format, 4 teams would have to be relegated from division one in order to allow the promotion of the other two teams.
In addition with the extra 2 leagues games there is a possibility that the number of star games would need to be increased from the usual 5.

Option B
Group leagues
Division 1 - 2 x 9s
Division 2 - 2 x 8s
Division 3 - 1 x 8 and 1 x 7. *
Start date July (or earlier if Tyrone were to exit earlier) until early September.

* assuming 2020 junior league is completed.


Teams to be drawn randomly to form the 2 groups and would play each other once with group winners playing for the league final. The aim would be to complete the leagues in their entirety before playing the usual knockout championship.
In order to accommodate the promotion of 2 intermediate and junior teams, 2 teams from each group of 9 or 8 would require to be relegated in order to return to the 16 team format for 2022.
There would be no star games in this format and games would begin after Tyrone complete their championship campaign.
Please note that in the GAA master calendar it is intended to have provincial club championships unlike last year.

Option C
This would consist of 3 distinct phases.
Phase 1 Developmental competition minus county players. Unlimited subs played on Friday evenings – group format as option B - senior 2 x 9s, intermediate 2 x 8s, junior 1 x 8 and 1 x 7. Teams play each other once. Indicative start date May until end of June.
Phase 2 Group leagues as per option B. July until early September.
Phase 3 Knockout championships. Preliminary round of senior championship and round one of intermediate and junior to take place 1 week after conclusion of leagues.

Option C is the exact same as option B except for a developmental competition for club players who are inactive because of the county playing in national league and the provincial / all Ireland championship.
So under option C, the league groupings for the Tyrone all county leagues as per option B would be drawn randomly first and only then would the developmental groups would be drawn. The groups for the development competition would be picked afterwards so that as many teams as possible would not be in the same groups for both competitions.
This competition would be designed to afford club players an organised competition played on Friday evenings before the main league groups would commence after Tyrone conclude their championship campaign.
In the development competition, it would be possible to have top 4 or straight to a final time permitting.

Please note that in the event that GAA activity could not resume safely then this phase of the season would not proceed and we would effectively move to phase 2 of this option.



AGM matters

At the 2020 AGM there was a suggestion put forward by Omagh Saint Enda's to play an additional football league make up of third's teams. On foot of this we need to gauge the level of interest in this potential competition and we would ask you to let us know if your club would consider entering a team.

For clarity the Omagh proposal is as follows :

That given the influx of young players into the adult ranks as a result of the change of age groups that the CCC consider a Junior B league and Championship to cater for teams that would now require a third "senior" team. This competition would be open to all clubs who wish to enter a third team and may require an East/West split depending on the number of teams wishing to enter.
This competition would be played on Saturday afternoons/evenings. In addition, there needs to be a pathway for players to progress and as such, consideration may be given to the following:
Clubs name 30 players who may only play senior or reserve for their clubs. All other players are able to play with the Junior B team, reserves in addition to a maximum of 3 appearances for a senior team. If a player makes more than 3 appearances for a senior team he is no longer able to play for the junior B team. This would allow players an opportunity to play at the higher level whilst allowing for the fact that they may not be ready and are able to come down the level. Currently if a minor played 15 minutes for their senior team they are ineligible to play for the thirds team.
Games can be played 13 a side in line with current regulations. The aim of this competition is to allow younger players to cut their teeth at senior level as well as allowing more mature players the ability to play our games whilst not having to put the same commitment as would be required maybe for senior/senior reserve in a reasonably level playing field. Last year, the two thirds teams entered in Division 3 won 2 games between them with one of the wins being against the other. It is clear therefore that both clubs are using the competition for the purpose of providing players with games and they should be commended for this.

Summary

Hurling leagues, championships at underage and adult level will be discussed with hurling development committee and proceed as outlined.

Go Games for 2021 will proceed at 7.5,9.5 and 11.5.
Underage grades will be at 13,15,17 and 19.
Féile will move to under 15.

In an ideal world at adult level we would we would like to operate a normal full league (option A) and championship but it must be borne in mind that there is no certainty that full leagues could commence in time and be completed and that is why options B and C are included for your consideration.

We are conscious that clubs need clarity and would like some indication on the 2021 games programme so we have tried to include as much detail in this communication as possible and we thank you for taking the time to read and digest it. It is worth remembering that these options are based on a split season and if this was to change a full review would be needed.

Consequently we would like you to give your feedback on options A, B and C as well as the thirds competition by Sunday 31st January. 

In the meantime of you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Senior

Ardboe: Mickey Donnelly, Brian McIver and Brian Laverty
Carrickmore:Ryan Daly and Noel Hurson
Clonoe: Stevie McDonnell
Coalisland: Brian McGuckin
Derrylaughan: Kevin Coary
Donaghmore: Barry Tracey
Dromore: Colly McCullagh and Paul McIvor
Dungannon: Christopher Rafferty
Edendork: Lorcan Martin
Eglish:Mattie McGleenan
Errigal Ciaran: Mark Harte and Adrian O'Donnell
Galbally: John Moylan
Killyclogher: Mark Henry
Loughmacrory: Martin McConnell and Ciaran Meenagh
Moy: Sean Cavanagh, Catterson, Karol McQuaid
Omagh: Larry Strain
Pomeroy: Gary O'Neill
Trillick: Nigel Seaney & Liam Donnelly

Intermediate

Aghaloo: Paul Coney
Aghyaran:
Augher: Aidan Cassidy and Brian Trainor
Beragh: Ryan McCluskey
Clogher:
Gortin: Colm McGarvey and Phillip McKenna
Greencastle: Sean Teague & John Lynch
Moortown:
Naomh Eoghan:
Owen Roes: Paddy Campbell
Rock: Cormac McGinly
Stewartstown:
Strabane:
T***yreagh: Martin McNulty

Junior

Brackaville:
Brocagh:
Castlederg: Kevin McCrystal
Clann na nGael:
Cookstown:
Derrytresk: Paul Hughes
Drumquin:
Drumragh: Simon McGeary
Errigal Ciaran Thirds:
Eskra: Gerry Donnelly
Fintona: Paul Quinn
Glenelly: Dermot Corry
Kildress: Roger Keenan and Tony Scullion
Killeeshil: Enda Kilpatrick
Killyman:
Urney: Dougie Corbett

Very little talk on here about the current Tyrone trials. Has anyone heard any names?
I know there are at least 60 (Including current squad players) been "trialled" over 3 to 4 weeks.