Minors to be scrapped and replaced by under 17s ?

[orangeman]

Whilst trying to defend the CCC from criticism yesterday, Liam O'Neill threw the journos a story.


The Laois official also revealed that the GAA are exploring the possibility of replacing the minor grade with an U-17 competition.


Weren't they looking before at scrapping both minors and under 21s and bringing in an under 19 competition ?.

[AZOffaly]

What? Do they make this stuff up as they go along? Most counties have under 17 development squads that play a lot of games already. Minor teams frequently contain 17 year olds. Is it to avoid clashing with the Leaving or something? In that case all exam students, including third level, should be avoiding the games.

[orangeman]

What? Do they make this stuff up as they go along? Most counties have under 17 development squads that play a lot of games already. Minor teams frequently contain 17 year olds. Is it to avoid clashing with the Leaving or something? In that case all exam students, including third level, should be avoiding the games.

Seems so.


Liam made that announcement yesterday.

But sure if they want it they'll get it pushed through at congress by pressing the electronic buzzers to say yes sir. 

[Rossfan]

I met Liam many years ago where he was talking about suggestions of changing the minor and U21 to U17 and U 20 which would be accompanied by a rule that a player could only play on 1 County squad at a time.
The thinking here was that all the Inter Co championships could be played the same weekends thus freeing up more time for Club championships to be played over the Summer months.
Obviously "it hasn't gone away y'know"

What has ye so all so horrified? Is it the mere suggestion of change 
Is there any merit in this?

[AZOffaly]

OK, well that sounds a little more reasoned. What was the driver to move everything forward a year? Why U17 and U20 as opposed to U18 and U21? If it's exams then at least there's some merit in discussing that.

Just throwing out a one liner about moving to U17 from Minor (with no mention of U21) with no context was what sounded like it was something off the cuff.

[orangeman]

Maybe it's designed so that the president doesn't look so small in photographs ?


Under 17s wouldn't be as tall.


http://www.sportsfile.com/id/744475/

[Croí na hÉireann]

Maybe it's designed so that the president doesn't look so small in photographs ?


Under 17s wouldn't be as tall.


http://www.sportsfile.com/id/744475/

I loled at that. Good one orangeman.

[theskull1]

Will be some craic for dual clubs with small catchments. U16's playing 4 games a week

[Rossfan]

OK, well that sounds a little more reasoned. What was the driver to move everything forward a year? Why U17 and U20 as opposed to U18 and U21? If it's exams then at least there's some merit in discussing that.

Probably along the lines that there would be less  U20s making Senior panels and that U17s wouldn't be as likely to be used on a U20 team as a U18 might be on a U21.
When I was talking to him the point was to enable all the IC Championship games to be played the same weekends and have Club Chship games spread over the Summer at all grades.
However it needs to be discussed as part of an overall package of restructuring of competitions and calendars.

However he seems to have changed his tune slightly now -
http://hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=191283

[muppet]

I am waiting for some President to suggest scrapping the games and replacing them with committees.

[Jinxy]

Will be some craic for dual clubs with small catchments. U16's playing 4 games a week

The U16 grade is going to be replaced with U15.

[rrhf]

There is merit in this.

[The Insider]

He spoke on this topic at the Leinster Coaching conference in Carlow in March adding that it was his hope that no U-17 would be allowed to play in adult competition.

[The Worker]

Will be some craic for dual clubs with small catchments. U16's playing 4 games a week

The U16 grade is going to be replaced with U15.

U14 scrapped also?

[Hardy]

Will be some craic for dual clubs with small catchments. U16's playing 4 games a week

The U16 grade is going to be replaced with U15.

U14 scrapped also?

I have an idea.