interesting reading the above article on HS...were they really that stuck (his club) that he had to line out and come back on and then play another game?????...is there panel that small???..I doubt it somehow..I think more likely is that he was/is such a good footballer that the club want to play him as they obviously dont rate the possilble replacements as adequate...is it any wonder then young lads walk away from the game..I am sure there were replacements of some description over the age of 17 were not played with someone like Shovlin available ...he should be gone and retired anyway at 56 years of age..whats new..

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1034 - 12/05/2017 18:17:12    1986318

125 views and not one reply...probably read by 125 Gaa club managers!!

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1034 - 12/05/2017 21:18:03    1986341

The club that Martin Shovlin plays for Naomh Ultan is from a small town called Dunkineely and I would imagine they would struggle to field 2 teams alright. I don't know the ins and outs of the situation but they definitely wouldn't have big numbers.

What exactly is the rule - you cannot play club senior to you are 18?

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1873 - 12/05/2017 22:24:55    1986348

interesting reading the above article on HS...were they really that stuck (his club) that he had to line out and come back on and then play another game?????...is there panel that small???..I doubt it somehow..I think more likely is that he was/is such a good footballer that the club want to play him as they obviously dont rate the possilble replacements as adequate...is it any wonder then young lads walk away from the game..I am sure there were replacements of some description over the age of 17 were not played with someone like Shovlin available ...he should be gone and retired anyway at 56 years of age..whats new..
Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts:82 - 12/05/2017 18:17:12If there squad is that small why are they playing in a 15 a side competition?
If a club is regularly using 4 men in their late 40s and early 50s then how will letting 16 year olds play suddenly boost the playing numbers.


125 views and not one reply...probably read by 125 Gaa club managers!!
Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts:82 - 12/05/2017 21:18:03Relax and people will comment... Its only been a few hours since your OP

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 12/05/2017 22:47:19    1986351

I completely agree with you.

Theres every age group over 17 available to a club at that stage. If you can't field a team there's something wrong with your retention of players.

I also don't get how these small clubs who can barely get 15 adults out playing have such a plentiful supply of players exactly 17 who are all ready and able to play.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4207 - 12/05/2017 23:00:42    1986358

He is bang on. There are 4 or 5 players in every club who can't play for the junior team but they are well good enough. The rule is probably there for player protection but I don't agree with it. I was playing Junior at 16 and it was the perfect prep for the road ahead.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7885 - 12/05/2017 23:12:53    1986364

I can vouch for the current injury crisis afflicting the club. In open to correction on this but Naomh Ultan would be one of the smallest, if not the smallest in Donegal. Still though, times are tough when 4 players in their 50's are togging out, albeit in the reserves.

Shovlin is a club stalwart. There through thick and thin. It's a cliche at this stage but he literally does all those nitty gritty jobs, selling tickets, training youngsters and even does the Friday night club bingo on occasion! This was no egotistical decision by any means. Apparently the bench was so light for the senior game that the injured player could not have been replaced and the club would have been fined €200.

It's all very well people from the outside looking in and commenting disapprovingly. But the facts are that for small clubs like Naomh Ultan, resorting to play 50 year olds is sometimes their only recourse.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9115 - 13/05/2017 00:04:46    1986370

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1034 - 13/05/2017 00:27:35    1986373

He is bang on. There are 4 or 5 players in every club who can't play for the junior team but they are well good enough. The rule is probably there for player protection but I don't agree with it. I was playing Junior at 16 and it was the perfect prep for the road ahead.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts:5002 - 12/05/2017 23:12:53 Just because some would be ready to play adult level at 16 doesnt mean they should. This rule is better for everyone in the long term. If you allow 16 year olds play junior then they'll be playing u16, minor, u21 and junior. That just means higher risk of injury and burnout. A 16 year old has a life time to play adult grade. If their club cant field without 16 year olds then theyre doing a lot wrong with adult players already in their set up

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 13/05/2017 17:41:34    1986460

dstuction (Donegal) - Posts: 1209 - 13/05/2017 21:00:18    1986479

You have to draw the line somewhere. It has been drawn at under 17. Of course some people are not going to be happy.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 13/05/2017 22:31:25    1986490

Clubs can actually apply to Croke Park for a derogation which will allow them to play U17. I think it's only for Junior clubs fielding 1 team. I think some people don't realise the pressure rural clubs are under. Go through the results from any county on the western seaboard and see how many walkovers there are in the lower divisions of adult and underage football. Croke Park would love to see more amalgamated clubs. It cuts down on the admin. They're throwing money at overseas clubs. Appointing coaches all over Dublin, but not a word about rural clubs. Clubs will soon start disappearing and nobody is shouting stop.

topoftheright13 (Galway) - Posts: 9 - 14/05/2017 11:35:28    1986528

Clubs can actually apply to Croke Park for a derogation which will allow them to play U17. I think it's only for Junior clubs fielding 1 team. I think some people don't realise the pressure rural clubs are under. Go through the results from any county on the western seaboard and see how many walkovers there are in the lower divisions of adult and underage football. Croke Park would love to see more amalgamated clubs. It cuts down on the admin. They're throwing money at overseas clubs. Appointing coaches all over Dublin, but not a word about rural clubs. Clubs will soon start disappearing and nobody is shouting stop.

topoftheright13 (Galway) - Posts: 9 - 14/05/2017 12:15:22    1986533

valley84 (Westmeath) - Posts: 1890 - 14/05/2017 13:24:42    1986554

This sort of thing has nothing to do with players in their mid 50s not wanting to retire, and everything to do with panels being further challenged by rules. Unfortunately, there is no easy answer here, as 17 year olds are wide open to getting a bad injury from senior players.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 14/05/2017 15:40:53    1986580