football championship 2014

[Plain of the Herbs]

Ructions coming down the line. Kilcormac-Killoughey have released the following statement via their facebook page tonight

Kilcormac/Killoughey v St Rynagh's Senior Football Championship

Due to the fact that our Offaly Senior Hurling panel members were not released to the club for football training in preparation of this game, the club has comfirmed to the County Board that we will not be fulfilling this fixture and have requested the game to be refixed.

[kaiserchief]

That is a stupid statement from Kilcormac/Killoughey.

It is up to them to release their players for training with their county team not the other way around. A player should always play with club team first.

I wonder how many nights Kilcormac/Killoughey had fixed football for?

Is this more that the Kilcormac/Killoughey lads went county training because they pick hurling over football?

[Lone Shark]

I expect that this game will be rescheduled, for two reasons. For one, the rule is clearcut - clubs should have clear access to their county players for five days in the lead up to a championship match. I can only assume that KK haven't had that, or they wouldn't be making a fuss.

Secondly, there are clubs out there who might be happy to take a win "in the boardroom" but my experience of St Rynaghs, both football and hurling clubs, is that they wouldn't be keen on doing so. Others with a better knowledge of long term history might point out instances otherwise or might not, but in the last fifteen years I've known a couple of instances when they could have picked up points/wins by the rulebook and instead they chose to play for them.

[Sharp Eye]

I expect that this game will be rescheduled, for two reasons. For one, the rule is clearcut - clubs should have clear access to their county players for five days in the lead up to a championship match. I can only assume that KK haven't had that, or they wouldn't be making a fuss.

Secondly, there are clubs out there who might be happy to take a win "in the boardroom" but my experience of St Rynaghs, both football and hurling clubs, is that they wouldn't be keen on doing so. Others with a better knowledge of long term history might point out instances otherwise or might not, but in the last fifteen years I've known a couple of instances when they could have picked up points/wins by the rulebook and instead they chose to play for them.

This looks like another big mess for our County Board. The County Board was expected to agree with county team managements prior to their appointment release of club players to their clubs for preparation for club championship games. Offaly Senior Hurling Management requested players involved in the Club Football Championship to train on Tuesday last giving clubs access to these players for ONE Day before championship. If a Term in excess of One Day was agreed with the County Hurling Management, the County Board must now take action. If a term of just One Day or less was agreed, the County Board have little interest in the Club Championship.

[Lone Shark]

I've asked the question about this and apparently it's actually the case that the five day rule applies to your "first choice code" and by playing intercounty hurling, the Kilcormac-Killoughey players in question are deemed to have nominated hurling as their first choice. So the upshot of this is that the county board are set to award the points to Rynaghs if KK don't field - which at the moment, is set to be the case.

Definitely this does go against the idea that we are a dual county, and may force us to ask questions about what way we want to handle things in the future.

[Sharp Eye]

I've asked the question about this and apparently it's actually the case that the five day rule applies to your "first choice code" and by playing intercounty hurling, the Kilcormac-Killoughey players in question are deemed to have nominated hurling as their first choice. So the upshot of this is that the county board are set to award the points to Rynaghs if KK don't field - which at the moment, is set to be the case.

Definitely this does go against the idea that we are a dual county, and may force us to ask questions about what way we want to handle things in the future.

I feel that the day of the Dual Player at Senior Inter-County level is over. Players however are entitled to play football & hurling at club level should they wish to do so. If your statement is correct, the county board have little time for players like Colin Egan, Shane Dooley and all the Kilcormac/Killoughey players who wish to play Club Football and are members of the Offaly Senior Hurling Panel. Offaly needs everybody now more than ever, and we are looking at a potential difficult choice for dual-players "Club or County". One Day preparation time for a Senior Club Championship game in a year whereby 4 Teams will be relegated is not acceptable.

[kaiserchief]

The players are not stupid either.

They surely knew that training with the Offaly hurlers on a Tuesday before a club championship game on Thursday was the wrong thing to do.

Brian Whelan obviously knew this was wrong also. He has no time for the dual player, he made EGAN, MAHON, DOOLEY, RYAN & CURRAMS choose between hurling and football 2 weeks after a nationwide press release of promoting the dual star.

There has to be problems between the county board and Whelan.

[azoffaly]

I was under the impression that tonight's fixtures were made to allow ample time for Sid to prepare in the run up to Kilkenny. If Kilcormac are correct, then how is this even a factor? If he wasn't releasing KK players for football training then he had more than enough time with them anyway, and the games should just have gone ahead this weekend.

Was Colin Egan training with Ferbane? What about the Brosna Gaels, Tullamore and others tonight?

[Sharp Eye]

I was under the impression that tonight's fixtures were made to allow ample time for Sid to prepare in the run up to Kilkenny. If Kilcormac are correct, then how is this even a factor? If he wasn't releasing KK players for football training then he had more than enough time with them anyway, and the games should just have gone ahead this weekend.

Was Colin Egan training with Ferbane? What about the Brosna Gaels, Tullamore and others tonight?

Tonights fixtures were made months ago. The Problem in Offaly is that it appears that County Team Managers have more power than the County Board. Expecting any club management to prepare a team in ONE Day is not realistic. If the County Board were in charge, Kilcormac/Killoughey would have had access to their players for the past 3/4 days minimum before tonight's championship match. Calling off a Senior Football Championship game 2/3 hours before throw-in shows how little our County Board thinks of ordinary club-players who are in fact 90% of the GAA,s playing population.

[Toxicity234]

Club Statement - K/K vs St Rynagh's Senior Football Fixture 22nd May
Published on Friday, 23 May 2014 21:22 .
Kilcormac Killoughey GAA club would like to clarify the circumstances which left the club in the position of being unable to fulfil the senior football fixture with St Rynagh’s on Thursday 22nd May.

Prior to the K/K committee meeting on Wednesday May 14th, our senior football management requested that representation be made to the Offaly County Board to ensure that the K/K senior football players that are members of the Offaly senior hurling panel be made available to the club to facilitate at least one senior football training session with the full panel of players prior to the match with St Rynagh’s.

At the committee meeting on Wednesday May 14th, the committee discussed and unanimously agreed to write to the Offaly County Board to advise that the K/K members of the Offaly senior hurling panel would not be available to the Offaly senior hurling team management from Sunday evening May 18th until May 23rd in order to facilitate a senior football panel training session on Tuesday evening.

On Thursday May 15th, the Offaly County Board were advised by email of K/K’s request to have their players available as outlined above. In response to the email on the same day, Offaly County Board responded requesting clarification regarding availability of the senior hurling players for the challenge match versus Dublin on Sunday evening. Clarification was provided by the club to the Offaly County Board on the same day Thursday May 15th that the K/K players were available for Offaly senior hurling challenge match on Sunday evening but were required by their club thereafter to prepare for senior football fixture on Thursday evening.

There was no further response from the Offaly County Board and there was no reason to believe or be concerned that our players were not going to be available to K/K. It should be noted that the Offaly County Board had now let two opportunities pass where they could have informed K/K if they had an issue with our expectation that our players would be available for football training.

On Monday night May 19th it came to the attention of K/K GAA Club that Offaly senior hurling team were training on Tuesday 20th May and that all players were expected to be in attendance. Consultations took place between K/K committee officers and senior football team management on Tuesday May 20th and it was agreed that it was an unreasonable situation to expect K/K to prepare for a senior football championship match without being given the opportunity to have the entire panel together for at least one training session. It was agreed that K/K club officers would contact the Offaly County Board to intervene to ensure the players were made available to their club later that evening. It was K/K’s preference that the fixture should be played but it was totally unreasonable not to be given a minimum opportunity to prepare for the fixture. It would be an unfortunate situation if K/K had to refuse to play the fixture as scheduled but if flexibility was not forthcoming this was the only alternative and K/K would request a re-fixture.

On Tuesday afternoon, K/K contacted Offaly County Board by phone to intervene and requested Offaly County Board to clarify to players that they were available to return to their club for training later that evening. K/K were strongly impacted as 6 senior football players were not available. This clarification needed to be done by 5pm that evening to give players the opportunity to change their plans and travel arrangements. Unfortunately, the Offaly County Board would not intervene.

At approximately 5pm on Tuesday evening, Offaly County Board were verbally informed by K/K that they now had no alternative but not to fulfil the fixture on Thursday and would be kindly requesting a re-fixture. K/K were told that written confirmation had to sent to the Offaly County Board confirming their position and K/K agreed that it would follow later that evening. At 11.45pm on Tuesday evening, an email was sent by the club informing the Offaly County Board that we would not be fulfilling the fixture on Thursday evening for the reasons already outlined above and we respectfully requested a re fixture.

On Wednesday May 21st, we received a response email correspondence from the Offaly County Board to confirm that the original fixture still stands and advising that there would be no chance of the match being re-fixed. We were asked to inform the County Board as soon as possible whether or not we would be fulfilling the fixture. We responded (via email on the same day) that our position had not changed and we would not be in a position to fulfil the fixture as arranged.

On Thursday May 22nd at 2.20 pm, we received correspondence from Offaly County Board, on this occasion asking if we would confirm whether or not we were giving a walkover to St Rynagh’s. A response was required by 3pm as the opposition, referee and venue needed to be informed. We responded once more saying that we would not be in a position to fulfil the fixture as scheduled but we were not conceding a walkover and again respectfully requested a re-fixture. It was clearly articulated by K/K to the Offaly County Board that this was a situation that needed management at County Board level and K/K GAA Club should not have been put in this position in the first instance.

It has at times been suggested that K/K are not committed to football, we would however point to the fact that we actively promote football in our club and participate in football competitions across all grades including two adult teams this year. Winning Junior and Intermediate titles in consecutive years has entitled us to play at senior level and we do not believe we are there to make up the numbers. We owe it to our players, team management, members and supporters to ensure that our teams at all codes and all grades have the facilities, resources and training time to prepare to represent their club. In this instance all that was requested was for players to be made available for one training session prior to a championship match, a request which we felt was very fair.

At the time of writing, there has been no further correspondence between K/K and Offaly County Board on the issue.

Kilcormac/Killoughey GAA Club Committee

Having been follow this at all but though I add this so no-one missed it.

[Sharp Eye]

While one must have sympathy for Kilcormac/Killoughey, their action in refusing to play the Senior Football Championship game is unacceptable. They must not be granted a re-fixture and must be fined in accordance with regulations. Taking the "law into their own hands" is not the solution. The fixture in question was made last March. If Kilcormac/Killoughey felt so strongly on the matter, did they set down a motion at County Board meetings? . In the event of a re-fixture being granted, many clubs will feel totally justified in undertaking a similar action in future and our championships will be never concluded.

[Buttons]

No i think KK are correct, the county board know the rule and not having a training session without that many players before a senior game is unacceptable. In the original mail sent the county board requested them for the challenge game against Dublin and KK accepted, they didnt have to. When will county players ever train with their club if a stand is not made.

[Ahlethimoutwithit]

You would have to wonder, when the CB did not agree to the hurling mgts request that this match be postponed, that they could not intervene and allow the KK players to carry out this training session with the club.

On the other hand , I would love to know how many training sessions that the KK club have put on in the name of promoting football. Also , have they played any matches in the league this year? Did they enter in the league?

If the 5 day rule is as stated that players are only released to the code of their preference, then that is a little harsh in a dual county? But if it is the rule, I would say that there is no obligation to grant kk a refixture.

Anyway, its a non event in reality, as KK and football, hardly a match made in heaven.

[theman]

Very harsh suggesting KK and Football aren't a match made in heaven. Obviously they are hurling first, but at least they make a good effort at the football (Junior to Senior in 2 years with ease). Not easy to have two teams at senior and I feel they were right to stand up the County Board who are as clueless as the cows out in the fields. All KK asked was to have one training session with their county players before a senior championship match. Doesn't matter how many training sessions they dedicated to football etc. How are we to promote ourselves as dual county when this happens every year?

As there is always 2 sides to every argument, I would love to know did St Ryanghs, or even Tuallmore, Ferbane etc have much time with their county hurlers? Maybe its a lot more severe in KK as the county hurlers make up nearly half of their football team

[Pat_Mustard]

The Man - have to agree with everything you said

What this come back to is the County Board stuck their head in the sand when they were contacted over a week before the fixture was due to take place and hoped for it too go away. we have no one behind the wheel at county board level

Having the 5 day rule as code dependent is unfair on clubs trying to be dual or who have dual players playing with other clubs. It's like they have it their too be seen to be helping when in reality it only helps football on football weekends and hurling on hurling weekends, no provision in for the dual player

I know fixtures is a difficult job but this does not seem to be the fist problem county board has faired over recent times. Anyone any idea what happens in other counties the like of Galway and Cork who would have major over lap of dual players

One more point, whereas I do think KK were wronged by the county board, if they are offered a re-fixture it could open up more problems further down the line