Offaly GAA Clubs face difficult decision on underage championship structures

OFFALY GAA clubs will have a very difficult choice to make on the structures for underage championships in 2024 in the coming weeks.

The underage championships have been played at U-13, 15 and 17 (minor) level in the past few years but a decision will be made in the coming weeks on whether to return them to U-14, 16 and 18.

Chairman Michael Duignan told a County Board meeting on Tuesday evening that there are very “mixed views” over the matter. He stated that U-17 was very young for players to be finished their underage career as many students were still in fourth or fifth year in school. Their view was that U-18 was better but there were problems with that.

At the moment, players over 17 years of age can play adult but if they went with U-18s, they could only play adult 60 hours after a minor game and with the written approval of their parents. Mr Duignan said this was impossible to govern and enforce and they would not be in a position to do so. If they went with U-18, there would have to be “decoupling” so that minors could not play adult and this would create problems for many smaller clubs.

St Brigid's delegate Michael Casey said they were not in favour of changing back and would be “in trouble” if they could not field U-18s.

Clubs will be given the exact options and a decision will be made at a future board meeting.