*Oisin Whelan of Clarecastle. Photograph: Chris Copley
CLARECASTLE are to consider taking an appeal to ‘a higher authority’ over the grading process followed by Clare GAA for the U21 hurling championship.
Draws for the Berwick Solicitors U21 hurling and football championships were made at the September meeting of Clare GAA which was held at Caherlohan on Tuesday night.
The championships will get underway with football on the weekend of November 2/3 with the hurling first rounds taking place a week later. The championships will be run on a knock out basis
U21A hurling quarter-finals:
Feakle/Killanena v Clooney/Quin
Éire Óg v Scariff/Ogonnelloe
Sixmilebridge v Inagh/Kilnamona
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield v Corofin/Ruan
U21B hurling quarter-finals:
Kilmaley v Ballyea
Newmarket-on-Fergus v Clarecastle
Cratloe v Tulla
Clonlara v Broadford
U21C hurling quarter-finals:
Banner v Parteen/Meelick
Smith O’Briens v O’Callaghans Mills
Corofin v Crusheen
Ruan v Wolfe Tones.
U21D1 hurling quarter-final:
Ennistymon v Tubber
Byes for Whitegate, Kilkee/Bealaha and Bodyke
U21D2 hurling quarter-finals:
Scariff/Ogonnelloe v St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield
Clarecastle v Inagh/Kilnamona
Sixmilebridge v Éire Óg
Clooney/Quin receive a bye to the semi-final.
U21A football quarter-finals:
Lissycasey v Western Gaels/Doonbeg
Corofin v St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield
Kilrush-Killimer v Ennistymon
Clondegad v Cooraclare
U21B football quarter-finals:
Kilmurry Ibrickane v Banner
Wolfe Tones v Cill Cúil Gaels
Doonbeg v Éire Óg
Cratloe v Clarecastle
U21C football quarter-finals:
St Joseph’s Miltown v Clann Lír
Ennistymon v Kildysart/Coolmeen
St Breckan’s v Parteen/Meelick
Bye for Western Gaels
Before the draws were made a number of clubs voiced their objections to the gradings. These included Bodyke, Whitegate, Ennistymon hurling, St Joseph’s Miltown, Wolfe Tones (football) and Clarecastle who were particularly strong in the argument that they should have been included in U21A hurling.
Vice Chairman of Clarecastle, Tommy Guilfoyle told the meeting that they had “contested the A semi-final last year and eleven of last year’s team are available. How do you tell those eleven that they are not in the A grade this year”, he asked.
He went onto say that his club “requires clarification on the process used. Can you show us the points system used. We tick the box in all the questions asked and we are asking you to show us the scoring system used”.
Replying both chairman Kieran Keating and Head of Operations Deirdre Murphy pointed out that the under 16 results from five years ago and the minor results from three years ago were taken into consideration along with details of the numbers who had gone on to play for the county and for their club’s most adult team.
Masters fixtures committee chairman Colm Browne pointed out that “a motion from Cratloe limiting each division in the under 21 A competitions to eight teams was passed at convention. The club decided on the criteria and the CCC had a difficult job and they acted with integrity”.
Guilfoyle persisted with his club’s objection saying “it’s a very poor process if you can’t stand over it”. He concluded by saying that his club will consider taking an appeal to a higher authority.
