No nominations in for Secretary's role as motions look for return of old age groups

Leitrim GAA County Board are still on the search for a new Secretary after the final nominations reveal that nobody has been put forward to fill Declan Bohan’s role for 2025.

Bohan, who steps down as Secretary under the five year rule as does Chairman Enda Stenson, Assistant Secretary Attracta O’Reilly and PRO Barbara Loughlin Byrne, will succeed Stenson as chairman but a re-nomination process for the role of secretary will now take place in the new year.

Kiltubrid’s Brendan Doyle will return to the post of PRO while Alan Armstrong will take on the Assistant Secretary’s role as otherwise it is stay as you are.

A number of motions regarding competition structures will be dealt with at the first County Board meeting of the new year with both Fenagh St Caillins and Aughawillan seeking a reversion to even ages for underage football while Fenagh also want to retain the U13 competition along with the even age grades.

It is a move that has found favour in other counties but, if passed, could see a return of fixture clashes that dogged that latter stages of the club championships, particularly with Leitrim’s low playing numbers and club championship derogation that allows some players line out in more than one grade.

Glencar Manorhamilton and Mohill both have motions seeking greater availability of inter-county players for club games while Bornacoola are seeking a minimum of three games for teams in the round robin stages of the Junior C Championship.

Aughnasheelin have put forward an intriguing motion that clubs who do not have sufficient numbers for a second team can join with another team to form an independent team in the Junior championship and the first 13 players from each club cannot play on this team.

Glencar Manorhamilton are proposing that the date of the Leitrim's Club finals be  dictated by when the winners of the senior and intermediate grades are out in the Connacht club championship.

Glencar Manorhamilton are also proposing a new structure for the Senior championship with two seeded groups of four with each team playing each other. They believe seeding ensures balanced competition, preventing stronger teams from being clustered in one group.

The full list of County Board nominations are as follows:

• Cathaoirleach: Declan Bohan
• Leas Cathaoirleach: Joe Cox
• Rúnaí: No nomination received.
• Leas Rúnaí: Alan Armstrong
• Cisteoir: Martin McCartin
• Leas Cisteoir: John Mulvey
• Oifigeach Pleanála: Appointee of the outgoing County Committee
• Oifigeach Oiliúna: Brian Breen
• Oifigeach na bPáistí: Appointee of the outgoing County Committee
• Oifigeach Cultúra agus Teanga: Laura Crossan
• Oifigeach Caidreamh Poiblí: Brendan Doyle
• Comhairle Connacht: Martin McGowan & Sean McGoldrick
• Árd Comhairle: Pat Feely
• Comhdháil Connacht & Comhdháil Bhliantúil:: (4) Declan Bohan, Martin McCartin; Incoming Rúnaí

The full list of County Board motion is as follows (Motions will be voted on at the first Board meeting of 2025):

Motions

1. Members of the County panel should be made available to play all All-County League games.  Mohill
2. Underage competition grades shall revert to U14, U16, and U18, but also retain the U13 Competition. U18 can run alongside U14, with U16 running alongside U13 and overall discretion on this be at the discretion of CCC Liatroma. The focus of the U18 Competition should be over the summer months to support player retention and improvement. Fenagh St. Caillin’s 
3. To revert the grading of underage competitions back to even numbers – Under 14, Under 16 & Under 18 (Minor) and that players who are in their last year of Minor will be eligible to play adult football. Aughawillan
4. That Leitrim County Board put forward a request to the GAA insurance Committee to review the current levy system in the player injury fund, specifically with a view to applying the levy only to the specific teams that have claims, rather than the current method of applying the levy on every team from under 7 to senior level registered by the unit. Aughnasheelin
5. To accommodate clubs that do not have sufficient numbers to have a second teams they can join with another club to form an independent team in junior championship and the first 13 players from each club cannot play on this team. Aughnasheelin
6. In Under 13 football if a player is fouled that player must take free kick themselves. Aughnasheelin
7. All adult players who are part of county panels who do not get meaningful game time are to be made available to their club when their club team has a competitive game. Meaningful game time to be a minimum of 20 minutes playing time. Reference game to establish meaningful game time is the competitive inter county game immediately prior to the club competitive fixture. Glencar/Manorhamilton
8. Glencar Manorhamilton GAA is currently the only club that has adult hurling teams. We encourage and promote the playing of both codes and have a number of dual players. Due to this, we are disproportionately negatively impacted in regards access to/ availability of inter county panellists to our teams. We are seeking where Glencar Manorhamilton GAA inter county panellists do not get meaningful game time (20 minutes) they are made available to the club. Glencar/Manorhamilton
9. Start Date of Competitions: The date of competition in Leitrim club football is to be dictated by when the winners of the senior/intermediate championship are out in the Connacht club championship. Example: Leitrim Champions V Roscommon Champions 17/11/2024; Leitrim Senior Championship final 3 weeks earlier 27/10/2024; Then all fixtures are worked back from the 27/10/2024. This would hopefully give the Leitrim teams a more competitive edge when it comes to the Connacht Club Championship. Glencar/Manorhamilton

10. Senior Championship Restructure: Two Groups of 4, each team plays each team in their group once. The top team in each group straight into the semi-finals. The team placed in second place in each group plays teams played in third place in each group in the quarter finals. The bottom teams in each group play in a relegation final. Teams should be seeded, with the previous year's finalists and losing semi-finalists to be drawn into opposite groups at each relevant stage of the draw. Remaining four teams to be drawn to complete the groups by open draw.  The benefits of this we believe are: Fairness and Balance: Seeding teams based on previous performance ensures balanced competition, preventing stronger teams from being clustered in one group; Increased Competitiveness: With each team playing every other team in their group, every match counts, maintaining high stakes throughout the group stage; Clear Path to Finals: The structure provides a straightforward progression to the semi-finals and finals, making it easier for teams to prepare. Glencar/Manorhamilton

11. That CCC Liatroma examine the possibility of playing the U20 Football Championship at a later time of the year in order to ease the pressure on teams in attempting to field during the summer months. Bornacoola
12. That CCC Liatroma, in formulating its regulations for the Junior C Football Championship should endeavour to build in a minimum of three games per club at the round robin stages. Bornacoola