Time to finally see the light

Columns can be tricky things, finding new topics to write about week in, week out without treading over old ground isn't as easy as I thought it would be when the powers that be first mooted the idea of “The Last Point” but usually something thankfully pops up each and every weekend that piques the interest.

One topic leapt out loud and clear this weekend but I'm reluctant to dive into it because, in all honesty, when it comes to reform of the Leitrim Club Championship, it feels like I'm shouting against a gale force wind while trying to catch the attention of someone across the road.

Long before this column came into existence, I've written about the need for a radical revamp of the Club Championship structures in the men's game and indeed, the Ladies game too, in Leitrim to reflect the changing situation on the ground where demographics and just plain logic would suggest that our current structures are not best serving anyone - be it players, clubs or spectators.

Many times I've thought 'they're bound to see sense now' when plans are discussed for radical new structures but with each passing year, I'm becoming ever more disillusioned about ever seeing anything changing, becoming inured to the status quo.

Albert Einstein's oft quoted statement that “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results” springs to mind but here goes, once more unto the breach says I, as I implore clubs to finally see the light and take steps to change the narrative.

First an admission, I was sceptical at first but I'm a fan of the new championship system proposed by Aughnasheelin, with one important caveat - the random four games works brilliantly if the gap between the top and bottom teams is not too big and so far, this year's Connacht Gold SFC bears that belief out.

Contrast the fortunes of St Mary's Kiltoghert and Fenagh St Caillins, the two reigning champions of club football in Leitrim - the Carrick men are unbeaten after wins over Gortletteragh, Aughawillan and Aughnasheelin while the new League champions are in peril of missing out on the playoffs after facing Leitrim Gaels, Mohill and Gortletteragh with an enormous game against Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins to come.

Fenagh may well book their place in the quarter-finals if they get the better of their Ballinamore neighbours but no more than Aughawillan facing Glencar Manor, St Mary's and O'Heslins in their first three games, any system that loads the dice against any team is not particularly a good one.

The bottom four teams, Aughawillan included, have scoring differences of, in order from seventh to tenth of minus 36 points, minus 18, minus 25 and minus 29 yet the team with the worst scoring difference, Aughnasheelin, could find themselves in the quarter-finals thanks to wins over fellow strugglers Gortletteragh and St Patrick's Dromahair.

Some will say that's the luck of the draw and so it is - Aughnasheelin have suffered terribly with injuries and emigration and they're doing an amazing job but imagine if they had faced Mohill, Glencar Manorhamilton and Leitrim Gaels, as Dromahair have done, and then tell me the system is fair.

I firmly believe performances on the field should determine your status but the starting point must be that the structure is fair to everyone and right now, it plainly is not. Aughawillan have proved that a lack of numbers isn't an impediment to glory time and time again down the years despite their small numbers but maybe they are the exception that proves the rule.

I've spoken enough times about how there are too many teams at Senior level - ten out of 23 clubs is ridiculous! In Kerry, only eight club teams contest the County Championship on their own with the other eight or nine made up of amalgamations and that in a county with over 60 clubs. Our neighbours in Fermanagh have an eight team Senior grade and it hasn't done them any harm.

If I had my way, I'd keep the system we have right now but with just eight first string teams in both Senior and Intermediate and the remaining seven at Junior level - second string sides can compete at the corresponding “B” level. Play four games if you want or just three but it would immediately mean more competitive games and that can only benefit everyone in the long run.

Three games might also free up time in the calendar, allow more time between games and reduce pressure on players who are facing into a competition that is almost like a blitz with potentially five games in the space of six weekends - that doesn't promote elite performance but rather rewards those clubs lucky enough to boast some strength in depth.

I'm not adverse to the idea of amalgamations at Senior level, reducing the club team count to six teams and six amalgamations made up of the best Intermediate and Junior players who can go back and play with their clubs at the lower grade is an intriguing idea but that system would take a lot of work from clubs in coming together and from officials in the scheduling of competitions.

The proof is there if you care to look for it - the Intermediate championship is devilishly competitive, even with ten teams, because the spread in standard isn't as pronounced but at Junior level, the growing strength of some clubs threatens to engulf some of the county's smallest clubs.

It can't be easy lining out in the Senior grade knowing you are going to face a thumping no matter what you do - where is the motivation in that? Whatever the structure, you get the odd hammering here and there, that's the nature of sport but when the integrity of a competition is compromised purely on the basis of a random draw, then you have a major problem.

Unfortunately, a solution isn't easily available because, rather like turkeys voting for Christmas, clubs won't vote for a system that might see them drop through the ranks - even if in the long run, being competitive at their own level will be much better for them and their players and that has got to be the ultimate consideration.

I get that some clubs want to maintain their championship status, something they fought hard for and cherish deeply but with a looming demographics crisis about to explode for several teams in Leitrim, perhaps being competitive at your own level is more important in the longer run for players and clubs.

Strangely, there has been a revolution over the past few years at underage level in this county and nobody can say it hasn't worked - just look at Leitrim winning the Humphrey Kelleher Cup last weekend and more competitive Green & Gold teams at underage level in recent years. But the idea of amalgamations at underage level was imposed upon clubs and maybe that is what it is going to take at adult level?

Yet for all the talk of imposing solutions , it is clubs who ultimately have the final say. The current structure we have came from Aughnasheelin, one of the smallest clubs in the county, so if clubs can see the light, they have the power to make the changes. I understand clubs protecting their interests but sometimes you have to see the bigger picture and bite the bullet for the longer term good.

Whether they will or not is anybody's guess - to me, it is an absolute no-brainer to reduce the numbers at Senior & Intermediate level but not everybody sees it as I do - the question is how many hammerings will it take before clubs finally see the light?

Mea Culpa
Despite sometimes believing otherwise, unfortunately I don't know everything so a quick apology to Ballinamore's Paddy Connaughton, omitted from our list of “Leitrim Dubs” in last week's column, who started at corner-back for Ballinteer St John's in the Dublin SFC against Templeogue Synge Street who are managed by Ballinaglera's Ray Gilmartin with former Leitrim footballers Adrian O'Flynn and Philip Howard in his backroom team. More reasons to keep an eye on the Dublin Championship for Leitrim folk!