Age grade for adult level to stay the same

There has been much debate about the age grade in Westmeath GAA, but following a vote at Thursday’s County Committee meeting in the Mullingar Park Hotel, it will remain over 18 for adult football and hurling: ‘A player shall have celebrated their 18th Birthday prior to January 1 of the championship year’.

There were strong moves by some clubs to reduce the age grade, Cullion delegate Dermot Broghan among the leading campaigners. However, when it came to a vote, it was decisively rejected - 38 votes to 18.

Barry Kelly, Westmeath GAA’s Coiste na nÓg secretary, in response to Dermot Broughan’s claim that 17 year-olds can play with the GAA’s sister oganisations, camogie and LGFA, said that minor competitions in LGFA are delayed due to the age issue. “Their minor competitions take place in November and December. I teach these young people; they tell me what’s going on,” he remarked.

Mr Kelly said reducing the age grade will lead to player welfare problems and overload.

“Clubs’ duty should be to all players, children born in 2008 and 2009 who will play minor in 2026, not to a very small, select few. The really talented 18-year-old would be eligible for 11 teams: I’m talking about the future inter county footballers and hurlers. They won’t be the future if they’re playing for 11 teams - Ray Moran in Santry (Sports Surgery Clinic) will be seeing them before anyone else,” he declared.

The players would be eligible to play for their club’s second team, football and hurling, pulse the U20 and minor teams in both codes. School team duty and county U20 football and hurling would add further workload, he noted.

“Our job is to make sure the 25 or 26 talented players we have get 12 or 13 games this year at minor level, as they have in previous years,” he said, cautioning that minor games would be shelved in favour of adult competitions.

Bunbrosna’s JP Reynolds argued that Westmeath GAA is going with the exception rather than the rule and is one of only three counties to have the age limit of over 18. However, Patrick Doherty, Head of Operations, said there are other exceptions at play, including having competitions at U12, U14, U16 and U18.

Irene Connell, Children's Officer, pointed to child welfare issues and complications with videoing adult games if U17s are allowed play. The workload on club Child Protection Officers would significantly increase.

Loughnavalley’s Christy Keenan said small clubs need the younger players to field, pointing to Mayo and other counties who are playing 17-year-olds at adult level. Ballynacargy’s Brian Sheridan called for flexibility, saying it’s the sixth time the issue has come before the County Committee, and that 29 other counties have it in place. “Are you trying to say they are not abiding by the rules?” he asked.

He pointed to the recent demographics report from Croke Park which encourages County Committees to help smaller clubs with reduced player numbers and to be flexible. He called for a vote by secret ballot, but it was pointed out that would only be necessary for an election.

Dermot Broughan claimed it’s unfair on clubs and players to deny 17-year-olds the chance to play adult football and felt if sister organisations could meet child welfare requirements, then Westmeath GAA ought to be able to do so.

Des Maguire (Mullingar Shamrocks) claimed only a small number of clubs are pursuing the age issue and urged delegates to back the County Committee.

Following a vote, it was decided that only players who are 18 years old prior to January 1 this year can play adult football and hurling.