DERRY’S senior championship relegation playoffs this weekend and plans to move to a 12-team structure in 2023 both appear unlikely to happen as a number of clubs consider appeals over the championship structure to Ulster GAA.
It’s understood that the provincial body would almost certainly find in favour of the clubs over an apparent change made to the structure of the championship after it began, which is against the GAA’s rules.
Derry county board have decided to go ahead with the games this weekend. Some clubs likely to protest to Ulster now as a result, though whether a hearing can be organised before the first games on Saturday is the question now https://t.co/JjPFmymk4U
— Cahair O'Kane (@CahairOKane1) October 6, 2022
The change related to the decision to seed the playoff draw, which clubs had not been notified of in advance. The validity of the playoffs themselves are also being questioned.
Rule 6.21 (3) of the GAA’s Official Guide states that a club championship’s regulations must be drawn up “in advance of its commencement” and can only be altered “on an annual basis” by “a simple majority” of eligible delegates present.
A similar case arose in Clare last year, where an appeal by the Crusheen club against relegation from their SHC was upheld by Munster Council.
Clare GAA had attempted to clarify midway through their championship that score difference would be used in the group stage, having originally said it wouldn’t be, and that was the basis on which Crusheen won their appeal.
That means that while Derry county board is believed to be keen to press on with this weekend’s proposed playoffs, they are unlikely to be able to enforce plans to relegate four teams from the 2023 senior league and championship.
The playoff fixtures – Ballinascreen v Bellaghy, Coleraine v Kilrea, Banagher v Steelstown and Loup v Claudy – may yet go ahead but relegation as a result of them appears unlikely to stand.
The county’s executive committee was challenged by clubs about the structure of their league and championship this year in what sources described as “a fiery meeting” in Owenbeg on Tuesday evening.
Clubs protested that they had been given no say at a February meeting where they were informed of the decision to remove promotion and relegation from the leagues, and plans to relegate four teams from senior this year.
It’s understood a follow-up meeting regarding the championship structures will take place in early November, at which clubs appear likely to vote to abandon the proposed 12-team senior league and championship for 2023 in favour of the current 16-team structure.
The top table also made a presentation to clubs on the advantages of remaining with the current U17 age grade for minor, despite widespread discontent among clubs over the issue.
A short discussion followed and clubs were asked to put their thoughts on the matter to the county board in writing.
