Clubs vote to accept radical changes to Carbery championships

CARBERY clubs have voted to accept new proposals that will see the division’s football and hurling championships undergo a radical overhaul for the 2021 season.

But the Carbery Board executive has agreed to make changes to the specifics of the original grading system that were put forward originally.

At the end of last season, the Carbery GAA executive introduced a set of proposals to overhaul the format of the championships, football and hurling, so that those championships would become much more competitive and each team would be catered for in its proper grade. 

The junior A football championship, which presently consists of 21 teams, would be reduced to 16, with eight teams in each of the junior B, junior C and junior D championships. 

The junior A hurling, which presently consists of 12 teams, would be reduced to eight teams, with eight teams in junior B and the remaining teams in junior C. Each year there would be straight promotion and relegation in the championships.

 Each championship would be divided into groups of four, guaranteeing each team three games, with the top two from each group qualifying for the knockout stages. It was also felt that the present leagues needed a good boost, so the league placings would be tied to the championships. 

At first it was proposed that the top 16 teams in the junior football leagues, the top eight in junior hurling, at the end of the 2020 season would be graded junior A for 2021. 

However, delegates at a recent Carbery meeting felt that some clubs, especially those who have inter-county players, would be at a disadvantage in the leagues, so it was decided that both championship and league performances over the coming two seasons will be used to determine the championship gradings in 2021. 

So, beginning with this season’s championships and leagues, each team will be judged on its overall performances.  From 2022 the teams in each draw will be put into jars according to their standing in the leagues, as is done in the big soccer competitions. This will guarantee an extra bite in the leagues each year.  

After a lively and positive discussion, the delegates voted to accept the new proposals, with the specifics of the original gradings to be sorted out by the board executive.