The issue here is the lack of senior championship games so far. If there were 2 or 3 games played then some or most of those 7 players would not be eligible for their junior team. You'll see a skew towards the stronger senior clubs at the top of b leagues and junior championship groups. Its just as well they are in the one junior A group as they'd be very strong so far this year. There'll have to he a halt at the quarter final stage to allow the senior championship catch up and level things off again.
Replying To Roger: "I'm just bringing this back to life after reading the two match reports on this page from Skryne this morning. They are a fine club and looking after their own interests but the reports shine a light on why junior clubs have a problem with second teams participating in the JFC. The Skyrne match reports include a complaint over the fact that their first team had an AFL Division 2 game the day before their second team had a JFC match. They are unhappy that seven/eight players had to play in both!"
I agree with this post. Personally I don't see the point of complaining in the match report and it is a bit embarrassing. Granted POR not playing league and lads may be away but Skryne would have had 15 players plus any subs used in R1 of senior ineligible for the junior game. It is not an ideal fixture arrangement but it shouldn't really be an issue for big clubs.
Just throwing out a new championship system that would possibly sort out some of the problems.
The early rounds of the championship could be a championship qualifying rounds.
Every clubs first team has a chance at playing senior.
The previous seasons quarter finalists and intermediate champions qualify directly for the senior championship. 9 teams.
A final 7 places are left open for qualifiers from the 40 or so clubs remaining. This qualifying competition is seeded in such a way that teams receive byes based on how they did last year.
16 teams remain.
At the same time there's a separate B teams championship. The winning team qualifies for the Intermediate championship and are joined by 15 A teams. (7 teams losing the final senior qualifiers, plus 8 other teams from an intermediate qualifying competition, previous years Junior champions guaranteed a spot)
Junior championship made up of 13 A teams plus 3 B teams who reached semifinals of B team championship.
Junior B championship made up of remaining A teams plus B teams to make up 16 teams.
There are 9 clubs who don't play these qualifying rounds. Their B teams will be graded so that they can't use any of the players who lined out in their last game of the previous season.
The championships proper kick off once Meath get knocked out 16 teams in each. Can be straight knockout or a double chance.
More knockout championship action. No more teams holding on to just avoid relegation. No more good teams getting stuck playing at a grade because they just can't quite win it even though they are as good or better than teams above them.