Football clubs in Clare have voiced their desire for amalgamations to be entitled to field a second team in a lower grade at underage level.

Shannon Gaels issued the request to the County Convention of Clare GAA which has been passed onto both sections of Bord na nÓg.

Putting forward the argument, Shannon Gaels secretary David O’Connell believed it would encourage clubs to enter a second team. “It would allow us to keep players playing football and hurling”.

He detailed that amalgamations and grouped up teams were becoming “part of our culture and are becoming more common”. O’Connell clarified that the motion was for both gaelic football and hurling clubs.

Kildysart’s Sinead Finn spoke in support of the motion. “This year we couldn’t field a team at minor level,” she revealed. As a result they joined up with Shannon Gaels and Kilmihil as an amalgamation. “A smaller nine or eleven side competition for smaller clubs” would be a boost, she felt.

Joe Cooney outlined that the request would be directed to both Bord na nÓg Peil and Bord na nÓg Iomaint. A structures meeting was scheduled for the end of January, he said.

A separate motion from Shannon Gaels was deemed to contact incorrect information. They appealed for all underage C competitions to be thirteen a side but Bord na nÓg Peil secretary Anne Hayes detailed that this is already in place.