The Meath GAA club season is set to get underway the weekend after next (Feb 6th) with opening round games in all the cup competitions, Feis Cup, Corn na Boinne, Tailteann Cup and the new Tailteann Shield competition for Junior B clubs. There will also be new cup competitions for second and third teams.
A modified version of the CCC Master Fixtures was unanimously approved by delegates at last night's Zoom county committee meeting.
At a previous gathering of clubs a number of delegates expressed reservations regarding the lack of games for Premier (reserve) teams. After taking on board the concerns of delegates the revised schedule was lauded by a number of clubs who had previously raised concerns, including Skryne, Dunboyne and Donaghmore/Ashbourne.
The opening round of the football leagues are set for the first week in March with hurling leagues to be played on alternative weekends.
This year sees a return to a normal full year calendar following an absence of two years and is aligned with Croke Park's split season. The new Junior 2 Football Championship will be called Junior B after a proposal from PRO Ciaran Flynn was approved following a vote.
The opening round of the hurling championship is set for the first week in July and that will be followed by opening round ties in intermediate, junior and junior B football. There will be two rounds of the football championship in July and a third in the first week of August when the SFC also gets underway.
Premier 1 and 2 clubs can affiliate to take part in the A Leagues if they wish while clubs can enter under-20 teams in the Premier Championship with the Premier Division 3 and lower starting in early April.
Clubs will also be allowed to amalgamate for the purpose of forming an independent under-20 team though they must receive approval from the CCC.
The senior, intermediate and junior football finals are scheduled for the middle of October.
An under-20 football championship and under-21 hurling championship has been penciled in for October/November.
The regulations for the various competitions were also approved at the meeting.
The Feis Cup (senior clubs) will be played under a league format with the 16 teams drawn into four groups of four. The top team in each group will qualify for semi-finals.
The Corn na Boinne will also be played on a league format with the 18 teams drawn into three groups of four and two groups of three. The top team in each four group qualify for semi-finals while the top team in the groups of three play each other to decide the last semi-final spot.
The format for the Tailteann Cup and Tailteann Shield for junior and junior B clubs will be determined by the CCC following affiliations. The format and grading for the Premier Football Cups will also be determined by the CCC following affiliations.
The Brendan Davis Cup (senior hurling) will be played under a league format with teams drawn into three groups of four with round robin games on a home and away basis.
The Billy Byrne Cup (intermediate hurling) will be played on a similar format as will the Donal O Loingsigh Cup for junior and junior 2 teams.
All affiliated teams will be graded for the football leagues with 12 teams in Division 1 and approximately 10 teams in the remaining divisions depending on affiliations. In each division the top two teams qualify for the final, with both finalists promoted and the bottom two teams relegated. Affiliations into the AFL competitions from second teams in Premier 1 and 2 will be accepted by the CCC and graded accordingly.
All affiliated teams in the hurling league will be graded into divisions of approximately eight teams depending on affiliations. In each division the top two teams qualify for the final with the winner promoted and the bottom team relegated. To support retention of players, intact under-21 club or independent team may enter the hurling leagues and will be graded into appropriate divisions.
